Never having to ask: why am i not brave

​I was in high school. Wars in the Middle East were raging. I had buddies who constantly talked about these wars. They said, given the chance, they'd be there in a heartbeat.

But me - nothing made my heart beat faster - nothing made me want to be more invisible - nothing left me feeling more cowardly than the thought of being in the middle of anyone's war.

I'm sure I never said that out loud to my buddies.

It's possible I've never said that out loud to anyone.

Is there a more admirable character trait than bravery? Is there a harder question to ask one's self - why am I not brave?

I'm not sure I've ever found a suitable answer to that question. And somewhere along the way, I think I traded asking it in for being grateful and in awe of those who don't have to ask it at all.

In my eyes, this is their day.

This is the day when I remember all those who disregarded that question and lived out the answer by making the ultimate sacrifice.

Sometimes, not being able to completely comprehend the heart and the mind of another leaves you ironically well-suited to appreciate what the heart and mind of another has done on your behalf.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends"

Because so many have been willing to do just that - lay down their lives for their friends - we can begin to understand the magnitude of those words.

We can begin to absorb that truth - there is no greater love.

And for that - for that kind of love - for that kind of bravery - I am grateful.