Courage
The word is usually associated with the battlefield, or sports. Sometimes it is used to describe the actions of people who have gone through catastrophic circumstances in their lives. Courage like that has prompted this writing.
The other night my wife and I watched the movie “The King’s Speech”. Many of you have probably already seen it. It won the Oscar for Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards. We’re actually late in the game; the film finished its theatrical release months ago. But that’s the beauty of DVDs.
“The King’s Speech” is a true story that took place during the first half of the 20th Century. Prince Albert, Duke of York and the unanticipated future King of England, had a paralyzing speech problem. He stammered terribly. Because he was the second born in the royal family it was assumed this would not be too big a hindrance for him as he would not need to speak publicly. His older brother, Prince Edward, was heir apparent to the throne. Even Albert’s wife expressed the hope that his impediment would offer them both a shelter from the demands of royalty. This of course was not to be.
Albert’s father, George V, determined that with enough practice and pressure Albert’s stammering would go away. Accordingly, Albert was assigned to give public speeches by his father. The two instances depicted in the film are both gut wrenching, embarrassing disasters. But here is where Albert’s courage begins to grow. Fighting the urge to cave into hopelessness, or hide, Albert begins to seek help. Over the next 25 years he continually works on his stammering problem. To have that kind of perseverance in itself demonstrates determination and courage.
What Albert could not have known when he set out on this quest, was just how important public speaking was going to become in his life. On the death of his father his brother Edward became King, only abdicate a short time later. Albert then became King George VI. His greatest challenge still lay ahead. George VI led the British Empire throughout World War II. His voice was needed to bring encouragement and strength to all his people. George VI went from the prince who stammered to the King whose voice led an Empire through its darkest hour.
Courage comes in many forms. Men and women laying down their lives for the right cause, rescuers braving natural or man made disasters to save the lives of others, families battling life threatening illness, and individuals like King George VI, summoning the strength to wage a quarter century battle with a physical and psychological adversary. The truth is that courage is needed almost every day. The 20th Century author, E. M. Forster stated it this way:
“Either life entails courage, or it ceases to be life.”
Carl’s more than 30 years of experience span the fields of broadcast TV and film production, advertising, sales, pastoral ministry and corporate consulting. Many have testified to the life changing effects that Carl’s instruction and personal coaching have had on their lives. His passion is to see others empowered to achieve and enjoy their God given destiny.
For the last decade Carl has been serving small business CEOs and their enterprises. He has done extensive executive coaching, facilitated conflict resolution, conducted leadership training for management teams, helped refine business vision, bring employee training and publications to reflect corporate values more accurately, and for some clients engages in on going corporate life counsel. Internationally Carl has inspired hundreds of profit and non-profit leaders through numerous conferences and one-on-one interactions. Carl is also a published author. Carl can be reached at: http://www.mountaintakersinc.com
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