Courage is a remarkable trait–something we notice and celebrate.  The way it’s typically talked about, we don’t really expect everybody to have it.  But maybe we should.  Maybe instead of practicing reverence for the demigods and superheroes who exhibit feats of extraordinary bravery and com- passion, we can begin noticing all of the ways courage shows up in our lives.  Maybe instead of looking for examples of profound courage in the world, we can get curious about each person we meet: what is their particular flavor of courage?  Maybe before bed each night we can ask ourselves: how did my courage show up today?  We can ask these questions knowing they have answers, confident that courage is ever-present; we just have to notice it.

Brené Brown writes that in one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.”  Associating courage with brave acts can distract us from seeing the smaller scale expressions of our commitments to inwardly unshakeable truths.  Mary Anne Radmacher points out that “Courage doesn’t always roar.  Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”

This month, as I move into full-time ministry here at UUFM, I am celebrating your individual and collective courage.  A significant majority of our members voted “yes” to funding my full-time position even though we don’t have proof that we will have the income to sustain it long-term.  Our courageous community includes thoughtful people who disagreed and were willing to say so, out loud and through the democratic process.  Having counted votes, we are taking the risk together, in dialogue, willing to share the consequences.  Barbara Bonner believes that faith is intrinsic to courage– “faith in the truth of who we are and where that will lead us, faith in what we are doing and its importance and value in the lives of others.”  As a congregation, we have faith in our vision.  And we have faith in each other.

It’s going to take time, muscle, creativity, and faith to move through and beyond the pandemic, to move back fully into our building, and to move beyond outdated notions of “church.”  Each person’s unique approach to community is relevant in this era when so many people who share our values are subsisting on disembodied commodified social interactions.  So many assumptions we didn’t even know we had are being renegotiated.  It takes courage to keep a positive outlook.  But it’s way more fun than giving into pessimism and fear.  I believe we (and our descendants) are going to look back on this social moment and smile, shocked at our ignorance but impressed at our courage.  And most importantly, grateful that we had each other.

In faith,  

                 Pastor Isa