Be Intrepidacious

Intrepidacious is not what we could call a ‘common’ English word. However, being the adventurers we are, we always strive to broaden our horizons. Sometimes, that means new words must be invented.

According to online sources that I will not cite, intrepidacious is a combination of two words. The first word is intrepid, which is characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance. The second is audacious, which embodies an uncompromising boldness along with courage and a hint of non-conformity.

So, what does intrepidacious mean?

Perhaps giving examples of intrepidacious actions will paint a better picture of this word than any definition could.

George Washington crossing the icy Delaware River at night in the dead of winter to attack German mercenaries was intrepidacious.

St. Lawrence, strapped to a gridiron over hot coals for distributing the treasures of the 3rd-century church to the poor, exclaimed, ‘I'm well done on this side. Turn me over!’ His actions and words were undoubtedly intrepidacious.

John Adams, before he was President, fought for the lives of the British soldiers responsible for the American lives lost in the Boston Massacre of 1770. The soldiers were charged with murder, and the American colonists called for their heads. John Adams intrepidaciously defended these soldiers against his own people, ultimately saving their lives.

For some of us, leading armies in revolutions, being burned at the stake, and opposing the masses in a courtroom would be regular Tuesday events. For the remainder of us who live boring, normal lives, the question that is now on the tip of our tongues is this:

In what instances am I called to be more intrepidacious?

Below, I have composed three lines to help us recognize a few of these situations.

1. A loud voice is no more true than a soft one.

Many listen to the voices that shout loudest. And there are many loud voices out there. Actors, athletes, politicians, influencers… their voices are often deafening. But we mustn’t confuse the volume of a voice with the truth of its message. The number of Oscars nominations, championship victories, votes received, and followers acquired does not ensure sincerity and truth. Society places these celebrities on pedestals and values their voices. Their words are followed, and their actions are emulated.

Do not slip into the current of simply following the loudest voice. Be intrepidacious. Seek the truth. Speak up against lies. Support voices of sincerity, humility, integrity, and truth.

2. A phrase often repeated is no more profound than one spoken a single time.

Saying something twice, three times, or even ten times does not add value or truth to the statement… but it does make us believe it more. If we hear something that is not true once, we are likely to reject it. If we hear the same thing repeatedly from many different sources, we may tend to put aside our better judgment and accept it as truth.

Be open to learning, but do not follow a thought simply due to the number of times you’ve heard it or the number of people who have said it. Be intrepidacious. Remain aware of the societal pressures pushing and pulling you in different directions. Grow where necessary. Be conscious of why you follow the voices you do.

3. A prayer shouted in public is not heard any clearer than the one whispered in private.

For whom are you living? Is it yourself, your friends, society, your convictions, God? Our current culture is perhaps more performative than it has ever been. We are kind in order to be viewed as kind by others. We achieve to be admired. We work to be recognized. But acting purely to receive approval is devoid of any meaning beyond self-satisfaction.

Instead, act on purpose and with intentionality regardless of how those watching will view that behavior. When you help a friend, do so purely for your friend, not to be seen as a good Samaritan. When you sacrifice your comfort for someone else’s well-being, do not display your suffering. When you pray, pray to God, not to impress those who may be listening.

Once you become more intrepidacious, you will venture farther than others dare go; you will shamelessly ask questions that others fear to entertain; you will find freedom in the beautiful pursuit of truth; you will build confidence through the humility of wanting to grow; and in your bold exploration of life and God, you will find a freedom that few will ever experience.

Do not let society’s expectations, friends' opinions, or even fear itself bridle your determination; instead, allow your conscience and Jesus’ words - understood in your mind and written on your heart – to convict you if you go astray.

So then, be courageous.

Be strong.

Be intrepidacious.

Washington Crossing the Delaware: Restoring an American Masterpiece. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2011.

Source: mountvernon.org