I’d Rather

Sep 11

At the beginning of each class, my students journal on a prompt I write on the board. This past week, I asked them about courage, “Tell a story about yourself or someone else who demonstrated courage.”

After a few minutes of writing, the class shared their thoughts with one another. My sophomores started with adrenaline driven moments of courage. One student wrote about white water rafting, another cliff diving, and finally a story on paragliding. After these examples, my co-teacher asked, “Does anyone have an example that’s not physical?” This is when the students started to recognize courage in one another. “James when he volunteered to go first for his presentation.” “Daniel when he joined the band without knowing how to play an instrument.”

For the best response to courage, I’ll give a little background information. Our homecoming dance is quickly approaching, and the students are beginning to ask their dates to the dance. Before class, they were all talking about homecoming. I asked, “Does it take courage to ask a girl to homecoming?” A student in the front row looked up at me and said to the whole class, “Yes Father, that's courage! I’d rather jump off a cliff than ask a girl to homecoming.”

I get it. Every year I see my students emphasize their imperfections and minimize their strengths. More than that, their imperfections are writ large in their minds. For them, a small pimple is like a huge volcano. It takes great courage to speak first, join the band, and ask a date to homecoming. They do all these things knowing their imperfections. I find them courageous.

Francis wrote about imperfections and courage in the Introduction to the Devout Life, “We must not be disturbed at our imperfections, since for us perfection consists in fighting against them.” To know our imperfections and continue the spiritual journey, the ongoing work of holiness, takes courage: “Imperfections and venial sins cannot deprive us of spiritual life; it is lost only by mortal sin. Therefore it only remains for us not to lose courage.” Have courage, have courage, have courage, for holiness is about perseverance and not perfection.

I witness courage in the confessional. Can you imagine going to confession with your teacher? Courage is wrapped into mercy, and it’s tied to forgiveness. Continue to practice courage.

May God be Praised!