CONSOLATION OF DIVINE BLESSING (33 OF 48)
Scripture: Genesis 26:1-33
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Consolation of Divine Blessing (33 of 48)
Series: Kingdom Foundations - Genesis
Patrick Edwards
Genesis 26:1-33
Introduction
Stay the course. We're not actually sure where this phrase came from, despite its familiarity in culture today. Some suppose that it originated as a nautical metaphor, meaning to maintain a constant, unfaltering course while navigating. In this context 'stay' refers to the ropes and sheets that hold the 'course' (mainsail) in a fixed position appropriate to the heading. We find citations of this phrase also, however, from the 19th century in reference to horse racing. In this context, 'staying the course' refers to the stamina a horse requires to remain in his line during a race. Some even believe the phrase is as old as Shakespeare. The Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlow uses the phrase 'stay the course' to mean to check the course of something to ensure it is correct.'
You didn't know you'd be getting a linguistics lesson, here, now did you?
Regardless of its origins, the phrase 'stay the course' has most often been used by political leaders to encourage their people to persevere in the face of adversity and uncertainty. Churchill would encourage Britain during the second World War to keep calm and carry on, to stay the course. In more recent history, we've heard this admonition from Reagan in reference to economic policy as well as from both Bush presidents. To stay the course simply means to persevere and pursue a goal regardless of obstacle and criticism.
One has to be careful though, because sometimes the course you are attempting to stay can be wrong, or circumstances can change to the degree that the course may need slight altering. In other words, its foolish to blindly stay the course no matter what. It has to be the right course of action; your goal needs to be the correct one. Sometimes leaders are right in the course they choose; sometimes leaders are wrong. The secret, thus, in staying the course is to ...
Series: Kingdom Foundations - Genesis
Patrick Edwards
Genesis 26:1-33
Introduction
Stay the course. We're not actually sure where this phrase came from, despite its familiarity in culture today. Some suppose that it originated as a nautical metaphor, meaning to maintain a constant, unfaltering course while navigating. In this context 'stay' refers to the ropes and sheets that hold the 'course' (mainsail) in a fixed position appropriate to the heading. We find citations of this phrase also, however, from the 19th century in reference to horse racing. In this context, 'staying the course' refers to the stamina a horse requires to remain in his line during a race. Some even believe the phrase is as old as Shakespeare. The Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlow uses the phrase 'stay the course' to mean to check the course of something to ensure it is correct.'
You didn't know you'd be getting a linguistics lesson, here, now did you?
Regardless of its origins, the phrase 'stay the course' has most often been used by political leaders to encourage their people to persevere in the face of adversity and uncertainty. Churchill would encourage Britain during the second World War to keep calm and carry on, to stay the course. In more recent history, we've heard this admonition from Reagan in reference to economic policy as well as from both Bush presidents. To stay the course simply means to persevere and pursue a goal regardless of obstacle and criticism.
One has to be careful though, because sometimes the course you are attempting to stay can be wrong, or circumstances can change to the degree that the course may need slight altering. In other words, its foolish to blindly stay the course no matter what. It has to be the right course of action; your goal needs to be the correct one. Sometimes leaders are right in the course they choose; sometimes leaders are wrong. The secret, thus, in staying the course is to ...
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