For those of you who are not in a Soul Matters group, you can still engage with the topic each month through these posts.  In October our groups will be reading the quotes below and considering the questions listed.  What does courage mean to you?

Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Do not be afraid.

Frederick Buechner

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.  Ambrose Redmoon

When I dare to use my strength in the service of my vision, it becomes less and less and important whether I am afraid.  Audre Lorde

The hero is no braver than an ordinary person, but he or she is brave five minutes longer.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Courage is the power to let go of the familiar. Raymond Lindquist

You can choose courage or you can choose comfort, but you cannot have both.   Brené Brown

There are two forms of courage in this world. One demands that we jump into action with our armor on. The other demands that we strip ourselves bare-naked and surrender.   Jeff Brown

Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it’s cracked up to be. That’s why people are so cynical about it. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don’t risk anything, you risk even more.    Erica Jong

Questions for Reflection

·        What is the greatest act of courage that you directly witnessed? And how did it change you?

·        What was your bravest moment of not running away? How are you being called to bravely not run away today?

·        What do you know now about courage that you didn’t know when you were younger?

·        What fear takes up more space in your head and heart than you want?

·        What are you afraid of and how is it holding you back?