Stupidity + Luck = Courage

Courage vs Stupidity was drawn on three small scraps of paper that I taped together, I cleaned up and colored the image with Photoshop.

A few days ago I was asked, "What's the bravest thing you've ever done?"

This is the story that came to mind...

Some years back I had the opportunity to go snorkeling around Johnston Atoll, it's a cute little place, a mile long and three quarters of a mile wide, located five hundred and fifty miles south, southwest of Hawaii. A chance like that doesn't come along everyday, so of course I said yes.

A few things you should know. First, Johnston Atoll, I'm told, is one of the most shark infested areas in the world. Second, I am freaked out by sharks. When I was in the fourth grade I loved the ocean, I was fascinated by it. I wanted to be an oceanographer. Then I saw "Jaws" and it ruined everything for me. I have been scared of the open sea ever since. To top everything off, I had never been snorkeling before.

There was five of us going on the swim, four amateurs and our guide, Sergeant Ben Lawson. Before going out we all had to watch a video about the dangers of sea life, why you shouldn't taunt the animals and why splashing around was a bad idea. We also had to pass a swim test. The swim test consisted of throwing your mask and fins off a dock and into the water, jumping in, putting them on and then swimming out to a buoy and back.

We took the test one at a time. I was the third one to go. I didn't have any problems getting the mask and fins on and at the time I was a pretty good swimmer, so with fins swimming a hundred yards out and back seemed like it would be a breeze.

The water here was incredibly clear as soon as I put the mask on I could see almost all the way out to the buoy. After I got about thirty yards off the dock I noticed something big and gray out past the buoy swimming towards me.

My first thought was, Oh, it's just another snorkeler. My next thought was that thing is too deep to be a snorkeler and we've been the only ones out here for the last hour. Then I thought, well this is it the moment of my death. A shark is going to eat me.

I considered turning around but according to the video sharks are really only dangerous at night, when they feed, or if you're making a big commotion, or if you're bleeding, or if there's a bunch of them in one place.

This thing was near the bottom now swimming closer and closer. I knew this shark would smell the fear flooding off me and attack. I considered turning around again but the fear of embarrassing myself kept me swimming toward the buoy. In that moment I figured it was better to take the chance of being killed by a shark than to face the humiliation of being called a pussy. The fear of humiliation made me face my own fear. Is that courage?

I was about fifty yards out when I realized the big gray thing coming toward me was two people scuba diving, one behind the other in gray wet suits. I waved as they swam passed and they waved back. They I finished my swim test.

I went on the snorkeling adventure. It was amazing and terrifing and one of the most wonderful things I've ever gotten to do.

If that had turned out to really be a shark I don't know what I would have done. I probably would have panicked and splashed away like a fool, but for one moment I made the choice to face my fear. That fear turned out to be something that couldn't hurt me. Maybe that's the way it is with all our fears or maybe it was just dumb luck.

What do you think? Was it courage or stupidity? Do you think you will leave some love?