Dare to be
The following passage was written by Texas Children’s Chaplain James Denham.
We are in the middle of a pandemic that feels like it will never end. At times, it can feel like we are frayed or tired. You need not feel alone in that. Welcome, and I will give you an air hug in solidarity.
One of the many answers in the face of this is to confront our own exhaustion, our own worry. Confront it with compassion and the understanding that you long for. Confront your exhaustion by daring to live genuinely in the face of a scary and lengthy challenge. Confront it by daring to be what you are: a human being whose heart is strong even in vulnerability, whose hope is enduring when it is hard, and whose compassion draws from a deeper well than the pandemic could ever find. In the face of hard times, confront them with the power of ordinary things that you can do to share solidarity with others. Compassion with others is nourishing when we need it. And just as importantly, it is not our exhaustion that defines us, but our dare to be compassionate that does.
This week, let these words from a poet inspire you to dare to be compassionate, even in times like this:
Dare To Be
By Steve Maraboli
When a new day begins,
Dare to smile gratefully.
When there is darkness,
Dare to be the first to shine a light.
When there is injustice,
Dare to be the first to condemn it.
When something seems difficult,
Dare to do it anyway.
When life seems to beat you down,
Dare to fight back.
When there seems to be no hope,
Dare to find some.
When you’re feeling tired,
Dare to keep going.
When times are tough,
Dare to be tougher.
When love hurts you,
Dare to love again.
When someone is hurting,
Dare to help them heal.
When another is lost,
Dare to help them find the way.
When a friend falls,
Dare to be the first to extend a hand.
When you cross paths with another,
Dare to make them smile.
When you feel great,
Dare to help someone else feel great too.
When the day has ended,
Dare to feel as you’ve done your best.
Dare to be the best you can –
At all times, dare to be!