Theologians talk about a prevenient grace that precedes grace itself and allows us to accept it. I think there must also be a prevenient courage that allows us to be brave - that is, to acknowledge that there is more beauty than our eyes can bear, that precious things have been put into our hands and to do nothing to honor them is to do great harm. And therefore, this courage allows us, as the old men said, to make ourselves useful. It allows us to be generous, which is another way of saying exactly the same thing.

Summary

This quote by American author Marilynne Robinson suggests the concept of prevenient courage - a courage that comes before our conscious bravery. Just as prevenient grace paves the way for accepting divine grace, prevenient courage allows us to acknowledge the overwhelming beauty that surrounds us and recognize the precious opportunities and talents we possess. To refrain from honoring these gifts would be detrimental. This courage enables us to be proactive, useful, and generous, ultimately emphasizing the significance of our actions and the importance of embracing our potential.

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