Be Brave

"Deep within all of us there is a yearning to be brave. And like all of our deepest, truest and best yearning, it comes from how we were made.Courage-the power to do the right thing even when it is scary and hard- resonates deeply with the original shape of our soul."
-Gary Haugen

someone recently asked me what inspires me.
without thinking, I said,
brave people.

people who follow their dreams,
like really,
truly,
live in the vibrancy of who God created them to be.

it took me by surprise that I knew the answer so quickly.
but courage is something that fills the well deep inside of me.
for I believe we are meant to
take risks,
and dream big,
and stand and live and cry for the thing that matter
like justice.
and kindness.

sometimes we are scared and believe that we are
too old to start,
or we won't be good enough,
or we don't have enough money.
or that we are just a plain failure.

but here's the thing...
you are uniquely created,
and you must choose to believe that you have something to offer this world
that no one else can.
and God has plans to use that special part of you

for we serve a sweet father of abundance,
who's storehouses are FULL
and ready to pour.
to.use.you.if.you.ask.

yes we'll have fear.
the truth is, we can't be brave without fear, or else it wouldn't be bravery.
we'll doubt ourselves, and probably doubt God's calling.
but HE in kindness who gives passions,
gives talents to be USED.

so be brave dear one.
run wild and freely.
pray a lot.
face head-on the injustice.
and root deep in HIM.
and pursue that flame firing deep within the reaches of your soul.

smile.
and be brave.

"he who is brave is free"
- Seneca

"When it comes to being brave, we should picture the courage of Jesus-
the power to fearlessly speak the truth,
the freedom to selflessly love,
the strength to unflinchingly stretch oneself on a cross.
the truth is, in our deepest core we were actually made to be like that. "
-Gary Haugen