true courage

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

Lao Tzu

Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.

Maya Angelou

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these are times for courage

not the fake courage of those who hide behind power and bully

not the “courage” of those who show up at rallies with guns

not the courage that comes from aligning one’s self with the powers that be

not the courage that comes from gathering your “flock” because you need an audience

but the courage of a young black woman

standing firm and peaceful while a large white man attempts to intimidate her

the courage of pastors who encourage their churches to remain closed

the courage of mayors and county commissioners, and governors

who make unpopular directives, to keep people safe

I’ve been thinking about courage today

and what makes for real courage versus fake courage

Lao Tzu has part of the answer

perhaps all of the answer when he says 

“Being deeply loved gives you strength …

 Loving someone deeply gives your courage’

Courage must be grounded in love

It must rise out of love

And it must be guided by love

Not desire, not want

But authentic love

When we are called to be courageous

that is when our values show

because moments that most call for courage

also call us to define who we are, what we believe in, and what we value

What do we value?

Commerce over people?

Money over people?

Individualism versus community?

Personal agendas versus the common good?

Popularity over leadership?

Do we have good values?  A good moral compass

And do we have the courage to live out our values?

Can we choose people over money

when our bank account is at risk

Can we choose to wear a mask, when people around us ridicule us?

Can we choose to stand up for black people, LGBTQI people, when our neighbors, 

our church, our leaders, won’t?

Do we have the courage to be unpopular?

Demonized

Do we have the courage to have people reject us?

As ministers do we have the courage to anger members of our “flock” in order to truly hold to the values and teachings of Christ?

The answer should be “yes”

But it is not easy

Sometimes we remain silent

Sometimes we ‘parse’ our answers to make them less overt

Sometimes we “cave”, and go along with the prevailing crowd

And sometimes

We are courageous

Sometimes because we know we are loved by God

And those around us are loved by God

We have the courage to choose love

Choose people

Choose inclusion

Choose the difficult path

Because love gives us the courage

To live out those values that arise out of love

Compassion

Generosity

Patience

Forgiveness

Acceptance

So give us courage Lord

The courage that comes from love

The courage that enables us to love

Because right now the world needs people

Who have courage rooted in love