Wu Feng

Courage is speaking your truth then living your truth.

Its one thing to believe and say you'll do something but another to act on that belief. What is the saying ... walk the talk? ... practice what you preach?

I read the most amazing story of courage this morning about a man called Wu Feng. Let me share it with you.

Wu Feng was a Manchurian diplomat who lived in the 1700's who was posted with an aboriginal tribe in the outskirts of Taiwan. Wu Feng befriended the aboriginal chief, whose tribe beheaded one of its members every year as a form of sacrifice.

Each year Wu Feng pleaded with all of his compassion and reverence for life, that the Chief put to an end to this custom. The Chief would listen respectfully as Wu Feng would plead, and then after listening and bowing, the Chief would summon the chosen tribe member and without hesitation behead him.

Finally, after living with the tribe for 25 years, Wu Feng once more pleaded with the Chief to stop this senseless killing. But this time, when the tribe member was called forth, Wu Feng took his place and said "If you will kill this time, it will be me".

The chief stared long into his friends eyes, and having grown to love Wu Feng, he could not kill him. From that day, the practice of beheading stopped. 

Wu Feng walked his talk that day, lived his truth and stood for what he believed in. That is courage.