Why “Moral Courage is a Rarer Commodity than Bravery in Battle” – Step 4

Cartoon ancient times girl standing and the feet of a slain Goliath w/ sfz title

From Thine Will Be Done – “Some time ago “moral choice” didn’t seem like an option. I was completely bankrupt, in and out of jails, 51/50, in an extremely abusive relationship, homeless, fighting myself on every subject like if I deserved any better …”

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When was the last time the battle for a moral choice you made caused you some significant pain in some way?

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Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho – Mahalia Jackson (2:08)

Robert F. Kennedy Brief Bio (3:54)

Courage & Resilience Guided Meditation (3:04)

English Analysis

Telling the truth demands a moral courage that Robert F. Kennedy called rarer than battlefield bravery. His words remind us that change tests our honesty more than our strength.

In It Works: How & Why, the text urges us to trust a Higher Power.
This echoes Søren Kierkegaard’s faith-centered view of fear and trembling.


Kierkegaard argued that real courage emerges from a leap of faith.
Here, moral courage takes form as honesty laid bare on paper.
The second quote from 12 & 12 shows ego as a fortress.
Carl Jung might add that ego walls hide the shadow within us.
Jung urged individuals to illuminate these shadows to become whole.

This idea mirrors the “chink in the walls” where reason enters.
Such reason only arrives when we stand fearless before our faults.
Kennedy’s insight connects these ideas: moral courage shapes society.
Without it, we cannot heal our defects or transform our communities.
Bravery in war is visible; moral bravery is often silent but enduring.

In today’s SFZ, action matters more than intention alone.
The individual must write the truth, break ego’s walls, and change the world. This path takes relentless honesty, spiritual trust, and the reasoned mind.

Our inner war demands we fight fear with faith, ego with openness.
Great thinkers agree: transformation starts within before it reforms the outer world. Will we risk our comfort for the painful birth of true change?


Original Quotes Translated to Spanish

Decir la verdad
es un acto valiente, pero
con nuestra fe y confianza
en el Dios de nuestro
entendimiento, encontramos el valor
que necesitamos para ser buscadores
y valientes. Con nuestro valor, podemos
poner en papel esas cosas que
pensamos que nunca
contaríamos. (It Works: How & Why, p. 27)

Tan pronto como
empieza a ser más
objetivo, el recién llegado
puede mirar sin miedo, en lugar de
con miedo, sus propios defectos.
El problema es ayudarles a descubrir
una grieta en los muros que su ego ha construido,
por la cual pueda brillar la luz de la razón.
(12 & 12, p. 46)

El coraje moral
es una mercancía más rara
que la valentía en la batalla o
la gran inteligencia. Sin embargo, es
la única cualidad esencial, vital,
para quienes buscan cambiar un mundo
que cede con mayor dolor
al cambio.
— Robert F. Kennedy


Spanish Translation of Analysis and Question

Decir la verdad exige un coraje moral que Robert F. Kennedy llamó más raro que la valentía en la batalla. Sus palabras nos recuerdan que el cambio prueba nuestra honestidad más que nuestra fuerza.

En It Works: How & Why, el texto nos insta a confiar en un Poder Superior. Esto refleja la visión de fe de Søren Kierkegaard sobre el miedo y el temblor.

Kierkegaard argumentaba que el verdadero valor surge de un salto de fe. Aquí, el coraje moral toma forma como honestidad puesta en papel.
La segunda cita de 12 & 12 muestra el ego como una fortaleza.
Carl Jung añadiría que los muros del ego esconden la sombra interior.
Jung instaba a iluminar esas sombras para alcanzar la plenitud.

Esta idea refleja la “grieta en los muros” por donde entra la razón.
Tal razón sólo llega cuando enfrentamos sin miedo nuestros defectos.
La idea de Kennedy conecta todo: el coraje moral moldea la sociedad.
Sin él, no podemos sanar defectos ni transformar comunidades.
La valentía en la guerra es visible; la moral, silenciosa pero duradera.
En las tres citas, la acción importa más que la intención sola.

El individuo debe escribir la verdad, derribar muros del ego y cambiar el mundo. Este camino requiere honestidad constante, confianza espiritual y mente razonada.


Nuestra guerra interior exige luchar miedo con fe, ego con apertura.
Los grandes pensadores coinciden: la transformación comienza dentro antes de reformar fuera. ¿Arriesgaremos nuestra comodidad por el doloroso nacimiento del verdadero cambio?

¿Qué puedes hacer hoy para ser valiente y decir la verdad?

battle

Comments

7 responses to “Why “Moral Courage is a Rarer Commodity than Bravery in Battle” – Step 4”

  1. E-Dawg Avatar
    E-Dawg

    I turned a gut feeling into a moral choice to open a door for somebody who I thought might need help. When I opened the door it was clear this person needed help immediately. I thank God that I was there at the right time. living in recovery and being of sound mind is easy to make the right moral choice even when it’s painful

  2. Sabrina J Avatar
    Sabrina J

    While I was using the daily grind of the next fix was the kind of pain that stripped my soul of its beauty. It is a constant betrayal of self and moral clarity. I am grateful to put that behind me and day by day recover who I am. May I beat my sword into a plow and end the battle and build my life.

    Thank you for sharing my recovery. I am grateful.

  3. Thy will not mine be done Avatar
    Thy will not mine be done

    Some time ago “moral choice” didn’t seem like an option. I was completely bankrupt, in and out of jails, 51/50, in an extremely abusive relationship, homeless, fighting myself on every subject like if I deserved any better. I fell to the streets and did many things to attain crystal meth and kept falling until I couldn’t fall anymore. I can say that by making the choice to surrender has brought me out of the despair and into God’s will, change doesn’t happen all at one time but it takes one second to see that change is possible, day by day I put together almost 6 months. I am very happy most days and desire to remain content with the life I have been blessed with.

  4. Jim Avatar
    Jim

    Fearless and thorough…daily mantra. Gratefully

  5. Margo Avatar
    Margo

    Moral courage. I search most deeply to find the moral courage to see “my part in it,” and thereby look honestly at my character defects. I sometimes (often?) choose unconsciously to turn a blind eye to my character defects; unfortunately, this can hurt my relationships with myself, my Higher Power, and with others. I have to keep reminding myself that my Higher Power loves me – warts and all. Stay blessed and beautiful.

  6. Adam Avatar
    Adam

    I had an ex-friend who I believe is still deep in a meth-addiction. He was texting me photos of buildings and signs and odd statements. As if he is living in an alternate universe, so he was clearly mentally ill. I texted him asking that he stop sending me messages. He responded telling me to f*** off and he would see me in hell. Considering I lent him $2000 to try to save his house a couple years ago he is very ungrateful. I had cut him off about a year ago. This was all very painful because I lost a close friend, and $2000. But this was his doing, not mine. Se la vie…

  7. Adam Avatar
    Adam

    Ending my last relationship. I feel becoming sober is a moral choice for me. I think I may lose some good friends over it which saddens me. These are people I had a real connection with besides the fact we usually drank when together.

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