Negate the Gods, Raise the Rocks

Courage or Cowardice? Work it Out

June: On Conflict and Courage GoFundMe for my wife's cancer fund: https://gofund.me/3682c6720 [https://gofund.me/3682c6720] June 17 It’s important to do the work day in and day out. Do difficult things. Stand up for others. Treat yourself with respect and kindness. Make a promise to yourself to learn something new every day. Help your neighbors, and show compassion for those you disagree with (even though I know that’s super uncool these days). These are just a few of the courage exercises that you can do to build your habit—to work out your courage muscle so that it becomes a constant. Make the vow to never abandon yourself. If you fall, as long as you get back up, you’ll see that your courage is still right there beside you. * Reflection title: Courage or Cowardice? Work it Out * Creative inspiration: Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses * Reflection Question: Am I working toward a constancy of courage? What courage exercises do I need to do to strengthen my muscle?

If You Want the Wind, Make It Yourself

June: On Conflict and Courage GoFundMe for my wife's cancer fund: https://gofund.me/3682c6720 [https://gofund.me/3682c6720] June 16 Marcus Aurelius said it over 2,000 years ago: Get busy with life's purpose, toss aside empty hopes, get active in your own rescue—if you care for yourself at all—and do it while you can. And this is the truth of it. By getting active in your own rescue—by caring about yourself, building up the courage you need to overcome the challenges in your own life, then—and only then—you just might wind up being the hero somebody else needs. Or the hero that you need. Always have the courage to seek help. But also, get busy with your purpose. Flap those wings, and don’t be afraid to make the wind yourself. * Reflection title: If You Want the Wind, Make It Yourself * Creative inspiration: Eastin DeVerna, Lux: From the Kingdom of Darkness * Reflection Question: What in my life have I been waiting for someone else to fix? What’s the first step I need to take in getting active in my own rescue?

Negate the Gods, Raise the Rocks

June: On Conflict and Courage GoFundMe for my wife's cancer fund: https://gofund.me/3682c6720 [https://gofund.me/3682c6720] June 15 How could this happen again? After all that hard work? How many more times—? Before your thoughts can even finish running their course, you feel your weight shift, your legs and feet moving of their own accord—and back down you go after your rock.  A sly, almost crazed smile creeps across your face. You’re actually eager to get back down to it. To step behind it and place your hands upon that rough surface, dig your heels into the dirt and push, push, push it back up that mountain. At this point, you’re not sure it will ever end, but you smile anyway. You don’t care, because you realize—this is your job. This is what you were put here to do. Others might look at you like you’re crazy—but do they get the chance to struggle and push themselves to their limits again and again—to push past those limits when it seems they can go no further? It’s the struggle that fills your heart, you realize. It’s the struggle that makes the view at the top that much better. Up and down, up and down, up and down. However many times. It doesn’t matter. This is your life. And you’re happy for it. * Reflection title: Negate the Gods, Raise the Rocks * Creative inspiration: Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus * Reflection Question: What is my rock, and how do I see it? As an external burden I’m looking to shed? Or as a part of me and my life—my story?

Expect a Quest

June: On Conflict and Courage GoFundMe for my wife's cancer fund: https://gofund.me/3682c6720 [https://gofund.me/3682c6720] June 14 When danger comes your way, you won’t turn a blind eye and ignore it, you won’t wildly throw yourself at it with no plan—you’ll be prepared, you’ll see it for what it is, and you’ll face it. But you never have to go it alone. Link may have only had a sword to help him back in the 80s, but maybe the fact that it was gifted by a caring old man who worried over Link and his journey was enough to serve the purpose. Even if no one is with you physically, remember that people are rooting for you and guiding you. Carry them with you in your heart and mind. So take the sword willingly, but don’t look at it as a symbol of violence or aggression, rather as proof of your determination and defiance in the face of adversity. At some point on your journey, conflict lies ahead.  Be sure of it.  Expect it. Prepare for it. * Reflection title: Expect a Quest * Creative inspiration: The Old Man in a Cave, The Legend of Zelda (1986) * Reflection Question: It’s dangerous to go alone! What sword are you taking with you? What danger did you face in the past that you wish you had been better prepared for?

What Courage Is Not

June: On Conflict and Courage GoFundMe for my wife's cancer fund: https://gofund.me/3682c6720 [https://gofund.me/3682c6720] June 13 Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. Courage is not aggression masquerading as bravery.  Courage is not punching down. Courage is not using force or intimidation to silence others. Courage is not shouting over others. Courage is not gaslighting others or lying to them. Courage is not keeping quiet when you know it’s right to speak up. Courage is not avoiding difficult conversations out of fear. Courage is not denial of facts or reason. Courage is not ignoring evidence that challenges your beliefs or worldview. * Reflection title: What Courage Is Not * Creative inspiration: Harper Lee, Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird * Reflection Question: Real courage is . . .