Being Brave

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you truly are.” e.e. cummings

When I talk about community, I often talk about being brave because I know that it can be a terrifying experience to try to join something that has seemed so hurtful and unwelcoming in the past. But sometimes I think being brave is:

• Making eye contact when you’d rather hide
• Putting down the phone and finding a new friend
• Choosing to go, even if no one else you know will be there
• Finding the girl who looks lonely & offering a cupcake
• Laughing when you’d rather cry
• Staying in the miles-long food line at the conference when you’d rather sneak away & eat room service
• Saying “hello” to someone you admire
• Believing that you, too, are worthy of admiration
• Doing what God has created you to do
• Writing without fear of typos 
• Hitting “send” when “ignore” is the easier choice
• Letting the “ugly cry” come out when you feel like you should keep it together
• Letting go of insecurity and choosing to walk in grace
• Volunteering when it’s uncomfortable
• Holding open the door to just one more new friend
• Showing up – every day
• Choosing to love anyway

It’s the small things that make us brave – the little moments where we decide that it’s not about us. It’s about the blessing God has for us in obedience and the knowledge that our courage isn’t something we have to find on our own – we can walk in bravery because we know that our God goes before us.