An Uncommon Courage

Courage can manifest itself in many different ways.  When we think of the term "courage" most of us think of those in harms way who helped others, such as a Medal of Honor recipient, or perhaps a human rights activist in a hostile land.  Yet, courage is in our midst by people that we see and walk by, and are by all outward expressions not unlike ourselves.  Perhaps, expressions of courage reach the greatest levels of realization through common people doing uncommon acts in face of some negative event.  In doing so they directly face the trials of circumstance, they bear the tribulations that beset onto them, and address the turmoil that pervaded their lives.  Circumstances arise that will change our daily routine and our lives.

Sunflowers on a porch step
Photo by author 8/12/2014 Red Wing, MN

When given a set of unpleasant circumstances or occurrences that upsets one's life, and that of others, some will continue their journey and let life takes it course, some will seek blame and retribution, but a few will show the courage to face the occurrence directly and take action to assist or minimize its negative consequences on others.  Common people doing uncommon things is one measure of goodness.  How we face our trials, tribulations and turmoils is an interplay between past and present values.  At present, I can think of no better example than the family who started the Triumph Fund to assist in the fight against cancer.

Glass sculptures of sun flowers.
Photo by the author, 8/13/14 Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Four years ago the fund's main spokesperson was diagnosed with stage IV colo-rectal cancer. The Triumph Fund was an expression of values by that person and his family in a fight against a disease that is one of the leading killers of Americans. Perhaps it was his own suffering, perhaps it was the death of brother-in-law with the same disease, perhaps it was the doctor's with whom he was in contact that led him to create the fund.  It was likely an combination of a series of factors, but the desire to assist and do better was part of his larger value system.  When given an opportunity he took the means he had to advance beyond the common. He and his family took action when they could have left it to others.

Sportsmanship Award, 1966

As admirable as the Triumph Fund is, I like to think that the greater act of courage was in the way this man faced his disease. A determination to not let it get the better of him, A desire to live life with a deeper purpose.  A duty to struggle on.  He did it with dignity, and a grace that we who have not directly faced such difficulties or troubles may have trouble comprehending.  Yet, he did not do it alone.  The support of a wonderful, and courageous spouse to take on care and support of a person with dynamic health struggles, kept him strong and purposeful.  The love and support of his two daughters who, due to the set of circumstances which beset their father, see and view life in a different light.

John Hovel family, 2012.  Photo by author

For you see the father of those two young women, my brother, passed away today due to cancer.  Cancer may have claimed yet one more life, but the purpose of the Triumph Fund is to slow the disease, to find a cure so others may benefit.  He has passed on and the Triumph Fund will now have to find a new chief spokesperson.  His daughters will lack the counsel and support of their father.  His wife will no longer have a partner with which to share.  The three will face times more critical than in the past, and times when they need to have courage.  But, what they will have are prayer to a merciful God, memories of their father, and an example of his own uncommon courage when faced with a terrible turmoil.  His values and courage will live on through the Triumph Fund.  His uncommon courage will live on through his wife, daughters and others of us who knew him well.  For his greatest gift to us is the intangible act with how he lived with an uncommon courage, and how he shows us the precious nature of life here on earth.

Rest in Peace John Francis Hovel, 1952--2014.