You know, many people have said that I'm on the edge and I'm

The words of Ben Carson—“You know, many people have said that I'm on the edge and I'm maverick for some of the big operations that I've done. I'm not at all. I pray; I ask God to give me wisdom, 'Should I do it?', guidance in terms of how to do it, who to consult with. All those kind of things are incredibly important.”—resound with the humility of one who stands at the border of life and death, and yet does not claim his strength as his own. Though hailed as daring and bold, he confesses that his true foundation is not pride, but prayer—a constant reaching for wisdom beyond his own.

This utterance speaks to the mystery of courage guided by faith. To the world, Carson’s surgical feats seemed the work of a maverick, one willing to take risks that others feared. Yet he reminds us that the greatest strength is not reckless daring, but the discipline of seeking guidance, of knowing one’s own limits, and of calling upon God for clarity. His so-called edge is not arrogance, but dependence upon a wisdom higher than human skill.

History mirrors this lesson in the story of King Solomon, who when offered anything by God did not ask for riches or victory, but for wisdom to govern his people rightly. From that prayer, he became renowned not only for his judgments but for the peace and prosperity that flowed from them. So too Carson suggests that the true measure of greatness in any endeavor—whether ruling a nation or holding a scalpel—is the willingness to kneel, to seek guidance, and to act not for glory, but for truth.

The quote also warns against the illusion of self-sufficiency. In the modern age, we often praise the solitary genius, the bold innovator who acts as though he stands alone. But Carson unmasks this myth. Even in the greatest acts, there is counsel sought, prayer uttered, and reliance on others’ strength. True greatness is not in pretending to be all-knowing, but in recognizing that every great act is woven from guidance, humility, and the wisdom of community.

Let this wisdom endure: when faced with great decisions, do not rely solely on the strength of your own hand. Seek wisdom, seek guidance, seek humility before the task. For the world may call such reliance weakness, but in truth it is the wellspring of enduring strength. As Ben Carson teaches, courage without prayer becomes recklessness, but courage guided by faith becomes an act of healing, an act of life, an act that honors both God and man.