Too many people pray for mountains of difficulty to be removed, when what they really need is the courage and inspiration to climb them.
At Chesterhouse we recognise the fact that each and every one of us is blessed with our own unique talents and gifts. It is however, what we do with these inherent abilities that makes the difference. Few things can be sadder than great potential that remains untapped. At the same time, nothing is more inspirational than seeing this potential being nurtured and harnessed to achieve success.
It was the Marquis de Vauvenargues who said that the greatest achievement of the human spirit is to live up to one’s opportunities and make the most of one’s resources. What he didn’t mention, however, is that to do so may require a lot of courage. The courage to take on the exciting challenges that come our way. The courage to overcome a seemingly insurmountable problem. The courage to stand up and try again when we have failed. The courage to be true to ourselves; saying yes to what’s right and no to what’s wrong. In whichever way it manifests itself, courage never fails to inspire.
Where would South Africa have been without the courageous stand made by the greatest role model of our times, Nelson Mandela?
Let us always remember that there is no short cut to any destination worth going to. However, having the courage of our convictions will smooth the way. The real beauty of this attitude is that courage is contagious – it creates a mutually inspirational environment. And when we’re truly inspired, the sky’s the limit.
