Finding courage
The following passage was written by Texas Children’s Chaplain James Denham. His words are adaptations from a prayer written by American theologian Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. and sentiments made by pediatric chaplain Gloria Kroeze.
We are people of accomplishment. We invent, we create, we build, we discover, we train, we break records, we teach, we support, we nurture, we help. We do all of these things, but now we come stunned, because in spite of all we can do, we don’t know what to do. We are scared. We are scared by what we fear may happen. We are scared by something that we cannot understand. We are scared by something that we cannot see — a microscopically small virus. This virus has altered our present lives, it has shut down our schools, it has cancelled our plans, it has emptied our schedules and it has separated us. It has consumed our thoughts, our conversations, social media, the news and our prayers. We live in a world of many unknowns and we struggle to keep up with what is going on. We do know that we don’t want to get sick. We do know that we can’t get near each other as we’d like.
In these moments, it is our courage that grounds us. Courage is not a lack of fear, or a lack of uncertainty. It is an unwavering trust even when we aren’t sure. It is being tireless even though we also feel tired. Courage is hope no matter how challenging a situation looks. Ryder Carroll once wrote, “No matter how bleak or menacing a situation may appear, it does not entirely own us. It can’t take away our freedom to respond, our power to take action.” In our case, while our world is full of unknowns, we stand in a place of courage, ready to act in the face of it, and we do it together.
May we find blessing from one another, through the help we offer, the support we give, the laughter we share, the listening we give. We may not know what to do, but we know who we are. People of compassion, kindness, strength, and endurance. People who rise with courage to face even the unknowns and the heartaches.
From that which is sacred to us, we ask for help. Source of hope, quiet our fears. Source of peace, calm our spirits. Source of strength keep us going. Source of healing, provide enough to heal. Bless those who care for the sick and have been even before COVID — and protect their families. Bless those who are sick in the midst of all this chaos. Bless family members who are able to be with the sick. Bless those who are separated from those they love. Bless those who are hopeful for healing. Bless those who are trying to be hopeful. Bless those who are making decisions and protocols that will affect many. May your hands, your hearts, and your work be blessed by your Source and by each other.