I was today thinking about “Bravery” and “Courage”. I feel they are words that are used far too often. I was struck by some  people considering themselves “Brave” because they are undoing things they have messed up, and  “couragious” because they are trying to behave correctly. Don’t get me wrong, I am in absolute awe of those people who are brave and couragious, like my daughter in law and son who are facing a dreadful prognosis, but are showing such bravery and concern for others.Like my patient who has MS and is valliantly keeping his job, in order to support his family and give them good memories, despite the fact that he can hardly walk, and there is a new drug which would help him and he is unable to get because the NHS in our district say it is too expensive!That is brave! Like the soldier we met who had both his legs off after being blown up, but is valliantly raising money for his colleagues, despite being in dreadful pain, that is brave! The foot and mouth painter who only has her mouth to use for everything and told me she was NOT brave just “having to work with what I’ve got!) That is brave! So am I brave for getting sober? NO! It was for my own survival! Am I brave for fighting  the churches injustices? talking about my abuses? trying to make a difference? NO!! It is because it is the right thing to do! But  I am often inspred, humbled, impressed by ordinary decent human beings trying to make a difference. I am so amazed by survivors of clergy abuse who ARE brave speaking out about the dreadful things that happened to them, facing  the most personal and embarrassing details that are asked of them, and then having to stand up to an uncaring and hostile church that would prefer them to be silenced and sujugated again. There are many acts of bravery around, and they serve to show me what human beings are truly capable of. But brave and couragious are words that should be reserved for those who really have earned them! not for sitting around and comtemplating ones navel!