Courage

We are living in a time whereby we must be courageous, for to remain positive in today’s environment is an effort. Thereby, in order to find strength in the midst of the cognitive dissonance of today, we must discover our inner courage. However, when speaking of courage, I am not referring to the definition that automatically pops up into our minds, rather I am referring to the definition of a man whose positivity helped democracy survive WW2, and he is, William Churchill.

Churchill wrote that, “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” In other words, courage is allowing others voices to be heard, while simultaneously listening to those voices, even if we disagree with them. Thereby, courage takes both inner and outer fortitude, belief and patience.

As we begin this week, we need to courageously listen to each other. While we don’t have to abdicate our personal opinions or change our minds, we should be open to listening one to another. For reconciliation as a democracy demands a plurality of positions and a safe forum for debate. While, listening to others who we don’t agree with, often makes us feel uneasy, we must find the courage to hear each other. For when this happens, there will be “Peace be within thy walls, And prosperity within thy palaces.” (Psalm 122:7)