When you awaken to courage, it becomes an exciting, life-enhancing force that will lift you back into your power and guide you home to your authentic nature.

–Debbie Ford, Courage: Overcoming Fear and Igniting Self-Confidence

These days it’s rare to meet someone who has real courage – the ability to confront and accept pain, loss, fear, danger, intimidation, uncertainty, even death. A wise teacher once taught me an old saying that goes something like this: “When you can accept people and the world as they are, you are a courageous person. With courage, you can deal with the world’s problems without despair.” According to my teacher, acceptance makes it possible to take necessary appropriate actions. But, it requires courage.

During times of pain, suffering, or loss, most of us would prefer to be spared; we may even try to deny what’s happening. Yet everywhere we turn, we soon discover that there is no way to escape. After all, losses are not moveable or transferable no matter what we try to do or say. But we can learn from people who are able to accept and find meaning from their losses, who understand that accepting and embracing even the shadow side of life can make them more real – like the Velveteen Rabbit.

My girlfriend Carol is a true woman of courage – someone I deeply respect and appreciate. During Superstorm Sandy, her beautiful apartment in Staten Island was nearly destroyed – not just the walls, floors, and furniture, but also her special photo albums and her 40-year collection of Frank Sinatra CDs. Although Carol mourned these losses, she had a courageous sense of acceptance as though she knew she would learn from this experience, that something good could come from it. She had patience with the government, her insurance company, her contractor. She believed that family and friends would help her to pull through. I was amazed at how she kept her spirits upbeat and positive even when she was homeless or when she was “promised” again and again that the furnace “will be delivered tomorrow.”

Last week a furnace and hot water heater were finally installed – over 100 days after the storm. We celebrated this great victory in her slowly-recovering-home. With the new furnace in place, she camped out in her apartment one night to try it out. “It was wonderful,” she said. “I felt I was home at last.” God give us such courage!

God of courage, Thank you for being near us even when times are dark and we are afraid. Help us to know that we are not alone, that there may be purpose even in the darkness. May we find the courage to accept and learn from our suffering and our losses. May we always remember that you are our light. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com