Courage

[RufusACanal]

Courage is something I know next to nothing about. Yesterday, I was reading one person's account of the homeless crisis in a certain Midwestern metropolitan area that has existed since before the current economic slide. The writer of the piece has a loved one who volunteers their personal time to help at a downtown mission.

What struck me the most was this writers thoughts on their loved one never turning away from the pain and sorrow that daily parades through this facility; always willing to face the troubles of others and lend a helping hand. Someone, the writer says, has to be there in the flesh not only as a caregiver, but to witness the many rigors that these men and women go through in their search of normalcy.

Courage is what I thought of as I read of this experience, though there was no direct mention of courage in the piece. Courage is not on a store shelf easily purchased, nor can it be bargained for or stolen. Rarely is anyone today applauded for their courageous actions, yet I can think of several specific examples even as I sit here at work. The young man or women who lacking all, surrendering to a simple program of action to change everything in their life; this is courage. The courage to face a wretched past, make life amends and living free; the courage to be a part of a community of like minded men and women and the courage to mentor men and women to healthy futures.

Courage.

More and more I hear what someone cannot do and why they cannot do it. Why someone else has blocked them from their dreams and how someone else is responsible for their inability to succeed. I hear the words, “I can’t” far more than the words “I can”. I hear that you are the problem and unless they have this or that, they will not be happy. You, whoever you are, will always keep them from being who they were meant to be. You are the problem, not them they will say. I understand this position, I too found it necessary to blame every component of the world as I slowed burned to a crisp; that was then.

I am standing ready right now and if nothing else I am available to those who failing all else are now willing to accept a hand. How could I not be? I believe that in order to keep what I have, not just this miraculous sobriety, but a quality of life unsurpassed, I must give of myself. Of course I might not be offering what you desire, but then again you might never know until you are willing to accept the impossible as truly possible today.

I know nothing about courage, but I do know something about returning what was given to me. Someone has to be around to witness and be available and that’s my goal each and every day.

[Astro]

Ron, that left me with a lump in my throat. So very true.

[24hrsAday]

Rufus: sounds to me like you do know something about courage!

[CAPTAINZING2000]

makes a big difference in life viewing the glass half empty or half full

[IO Storm]

"You are the problem, not them they will say. I understand this position, I too found it necessary to blame every component of the world as I slowed burned to a crisp; that was then. "

Oh, me too Captain, me too.

And this is now.

I love what my sponsor has taught me..

"Recovery is shining the light in our own backyard, not someone else's."

And this philosophy..from the get go, this time around..has enabled me to begin

to get well. I couldn't before. And give of myself. I didn't know how before..not really.

I had compassion..and activity, but not much in the way of good orderly direction.

And certainly not in active addiction when I was entirely in self will run riot.

Thank you for this post.

Hugs

[Tazman53]

Courage......... Honesty is part of courage, courage is not taking the easy way out, it is always easier to ignore or deny a problem, it takes courage to admit to a probelm, and even more courage to take the bull by the horns and to do something about it.