It doesn't mean sitting there, doing nothing, letting God take care of it all. Neither does it mean running around like a control freak and having the "courage" to do a million difficult things.
Courage fights complacency and being comfortable with the status quo. Courage requires compassion, wisdom, perspective, trust, love for God, and above all, balance between prayer and action.
But how often do we pray only to affirm who we are and what we do? We pray for courage and strength to do what is right, true, and good -- but do we actually risk our necks to do what is right, true, and good? What do we do with the tug on our heart to reach out to the poor, the miserable, the sick, the lonely, the hurting, and the lost? What do we do with the words we find in Scripture or in our theology books which radically challenge us, make us feel uncomfortable, or even -- dare I say -- condemn our way of life?
Courage directs us outwards: to the needs of others and to the will of God. And that's rarely easy, safe, or comfortable. But it's a perfect starting place for prayer.
Might I suggest two tools?
First and foremost, Michelangelo's Pieta.
Mary's face is serene, accepting God's plan which she cannot understand. And if you look carefully, her left hand is raised, open, receptive of the grace which gives her the courage to press on -- even in the face of such despicable acts, gut-wrenching pain and suffering, such piercing agony and mourning, and perhaps even sense of losing all purpose and hope.
Secondly, I recently picked up Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade (http://www.amazon.com/Abandonment-Divine-Providence-Jean-Pierre-Caussade/dp/0486464261/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214264632&sr=8-1). It's definitely worth perusing.
The Shakers are especially intentional about being in the moment and making everything a prayer. May you find every experience, interaction, and challenge an opportunity to grow in courage.
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