A Dog Called Courage

I love dogs. I grew up with them.

They are the best pet in the world. (my opinion- no hate mail please!)

They are so lucky. They prance around living the good life- when to eat, when to go out, when they get to run, where are their toys and when they will get their belly rubbed.

Their only real concern is when they are going to see their Master next. And when they do, they will dance with joy.

They don't worry about stuff like we do...

Public speaking, performing, speaking up when it's not popular, facing the unknown, taking a huge risk, asking your boss for a raise, sharing something personal in public, thinking about the future- or the future of someone else, uncomfortable confrontation, regretting the past, thinking about tomorrow, initiating a difficult conversation, taking the first step....

for pete's sake, they don't even make their own breakfast.

Life can be full of so much drama. Trouble. Worry.

And if your not feeling it now, it's lurking around the corner.

Fear is an interesting thing, as it can come in so many forms and tenses.

I fear the past will come back to haunt me.

I fear what you'll think of me- now and later.

I fear for you- what you'll do- or not do.

What's happening right now?

What's going to happen next?

Call it what you want- fear, worry, anxiety...

Either way, it can be paralyzing. It can take your breath away.

It can rule your thoughts and make life miserable.

Check out this comment I read the other day:

Fear and adrenaline feel exactly the same in our body...

fear is about stopping you, adrenaline is about forward action.

Choosing forward action takes courage.

In Psalms 27, David writes:
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

And again in chapter 31:
Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord!

If I had a dog today, I might name him Courage.

He would remind me that I can choose forward action, instead of paralyzing fear.

He would remind me that the best part of my day is waiting on the Master. It's then that I can dance with joy.

Beauty of Love Divine

Check out this Sonnet by Michelangelo: The course of my life has brought me now Through a stormy sea, in a frail ship, To the common port where, landing We account for every deed, wretched or holy. So that finally I see How wrong the fond illusion was That made art my idol and my King, Leading me to want what harmed me. My amorous fancies, once foolish and happy What sense have they now that I approach two deaths The first of which I know is sure, the second threatening. Let neither painting nor carving any longer calm My soul turned to that divine Love Who to embrace us, opened His arms upon the cross. - On the Brink of Death , To Giorgio Vasari, Sonnet LXV WOW. This reminds me to think of life in reverse. It may seem weird, but looking at the end - or starting with the end in mind - can give us perspective. When we think (like Michelangelo did here) from the perspective of death, suddenly many things we chase after seem insignificant and deceptive. Things...

New Year Resolutions Worth Keeping

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Character Over Comfort & Control

Control. We all want it. We don't always get it. Sometimes we get it, then decide we don't want it. Sigh. In my life I've come to recognize control as an old familiar acquaintance, continually proving that my sense of having it is simply an illusion. Just when I think I have it, it's often yanked from my groping hands and there's not much I can do about it. When we feel like we are in control, we often feel pretty comfortable with it. You may tell yourself you've earned it. You may snatch it away from someone else and justify it. You may hoard it, thinking no one can hurt you. You may sacrifice pieces of your character to have it. You may hide behind it. When we feel out of control, we often feel frantic. Why are we afraid to let go of it? we feel weak we feel uncomfortable we feel ineffective we feel frustrated we feel exposed we feel like we are floundering, grasping we wonder what will happen and how we...

Michelle Renee Speaks

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