The greatest fear of mankind is being alone.

That's why cowardice makes sense. It's unthreatening. It doesn't seek or invite conflict; it avoids it. And more than anything, it keeps you in the room with everybody else.

Bravery doesn't just invite conflict. It threatens separation. Risk implies possible or probable failure, and for various reasons, people might walk away from the person doing what's risky. That's not for everyone.

When God asks His people to be brave, He tells them: "I will not leave you or forsake you." It's a reminder that they are not alone. Elijah, having won on Mount Carmel, ran into the wilderness - convinced he was the only one left. God fed him, then told him there were thousands more. Paul wrote from prison that at his first defense, everyone deserted him. But the Lord stood by him.

It might be the reason we marry by vow. Together through thick and thin, till death do us part. Life is risky, and sometimes risk means loneliness. It's a comfort when we know we're not alone.

I spent yesterday with those at the Grassroots America summit. The people assembled there were risk-takers, each passionate about the issues that matter most to them, fighting to preserve our culture and our families. One person said it felt like a family reunion. In other words, every person in the room was reminded: you're not alone.

Cowards go with the flow. They don't move - they are moved. The brave stake a direction and don't care about the current, because they know the destination. That doesn't mean they have to be aggressive or rude. It means they do what they have to do without needing agreement from others.

As Limbaugh said, "There is no book entitled 'Great Moderates of History.'"
Culture is defined by the bold, and politics belongs to whoever is still standing when the pressure comes.

I was heartened to be in a room of Texans unafraid to chart the right path. More than that, I was heartened to be in a room full of people willing to walk alone with God, if required.

If it's purpose you seek, then be unafraid to move with purpose.