I have many times in my life witnessed True Courage! I have heard about it, read about it, seen it in action and experienced it myself. Courage leads itself to a Great Sense of Hope! When a person behaves courageously, warranted by circumstances, the courage they show, reveals their Hope for an improvement, a resolution, or a simple change for the better. I think of how many people were killed trying to reach the summits of the world's highest mountains and then how many others, because of their courage, determination and hope, survived what they should have not! The mountain is a metaphor for Life, the progression and reaching of set goals, for the purpose of accomplishment! Learning and absorbing to accend yet another level. Each level brings a deeper understanding of all things, as well as an increase in skill or a further development of one's talents! I believe that some are higher on the mountain than others. Their reasoning, morality, choices and devotion to others, their COURAGE,  keep them scaling yet another level, passing many along the mountain that are stagnate lower down because they lack courage and faith in themselves to continue to grow! What they lack they make up for in anger and resentment, and that will paralyse you at whichever level you may be. And then there is God, if I learned one thing in this Life and in this World you cannot have inner peace without having a relationship with our God! It is that relationship that makes you strive harder to live Virtuously and be forever growing. A man who says he has nothing left to learn, is a man whose either Ego is heavily inflated, or simply lacks the motivation to improve(I prefer even Refine)one's charcter and knowledge! And then there is the example of Courage witnessed by others,  by people who battle ILLNESS! The 9 year old boy that's lying for 2 years in a bed at Sick Kids, going through his 3rd round of Chemotherapy after having his right leg amputated due to the spread of his Cancer! The enormous Courage it takes not to give up in the midst of such ongoing pain and suffering, absent from all life's activities and many relationships, due to necessary confinement! The Courage of his parents to endure their son's illness, suffer terribly financially and have the constant 'Cloud of Doom' over their precious child's head, as to weather they will ever survive...this is Brutal! It also brings out the Godliness in most men, to be supportive, available and Always Praying for the Healing! Battling chronic illness is also a 24-7 job! There is nothing you do that in the background(and often foreground)the body isn't simoultaneously experiencing overwhelming levels of PAIN...yet sufferers show the highest level of Courage, determination and the ability to overcome Incredible challenges! They also, due to having a personal experience, have a deep understanding into the suffering of Humanity! Most people I know who are chronically ill(including myself)have an Undying Spirit of Hope and often(despite having many reasons to feel to the contrary)conduct themselves  as if they are not sick...and often this Spirit pushes them to Excel and do even more than someone who has no physical affliction. Because simple things can be so hard and painful, there is an enormous capacity for Gratitude! There seems to be a greater appreciation of things, since what comes to those who are not sick so easily, is so challenging and has to be balanced with obligation, reponsibilities, and personal goals that lead to achievements! They often complain less and stress less over insignificant matters that often plague those who are not ill. Understanding that Life is Precious...and you never know what affliction may await you...but it is not the affliction that defines or confines you but rather strengthens you and brings out your COURAGEOUS side! So, the next time you see that person in the wheelchair or that elderly man walking with a cane or that 20something young man who has the mind of a child...Look upon them with Reverence and Respect and see not the wheelchair nor cane nor undeveloped mind but rather see their COURAGE, determination, hard work and defying the ODDS!