Courage is Not a Choice
In time, everyone’s life becomes a tragedy. We all succumb to death and suffering. We often live our lives as if courage is optional, it is not, it is required. Its easy to believe that by living for ourselves we can keep tragedy at bay with our selfishness. Life is either suffering with courage or suffering with fear and the only hope we have is by doing the former. We will die, but we cannot not let the fear of death steal the courage required to live a remarkable life. In the era of COV-19 , economic uncertainty, and racial unrest, the great temptation is to withdraw from living creatively and boldly. Now more than ever, the world depends on our courage. Courageous and creative leadership is the only true pathway forward.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. Matt 16:24, NASB
To “bear our cross and follow Him” is to understand that we find the ability to transcend suffering by embracing it. The solution to suffering lay in the middle of suffering itself. Love is only way to transform our pain into something beautiful & meaningful. Love becomes a sign pointing to a reality that is bigger than our current pain and in doing so inspires the world. In love our lives become a beacon of hope for all others who suffer.
Life is courage. There is no other way.
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.” So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.” — Minnie Louis Haskins, Gate of the Year
Build with Humanity’s daily meditations are reflections for community leaders, dreamers, and neighbors that seek to be better people for themselves and the world. We believe the future of home and community is deeply tied to our human capacity for connection, healing, and embodying an empathetic perspective. Please follow me for short 5 min reflections every week. Brannon Veal
