With the Heart of a Lion...

A five year old boy taught me the true meaning of courage this weekend. He demonstrated the essence of courage and the sense of triumph that comes along with it.

I went to the zoo Saturday. I had a pretty good time. After walking around peering at the forlorn animals for a couple of hours, my friends and I noticed there were other activities. There was a merry-go-round, a zoo train, and a rock climbing area. There was a tiny little, 5 year old boy who badly wanted to rock climb. his parent was skeptical and the onlookers chuckled. The "mountain" was at least 8 feet if not more, but in spite of that, he was allowed.
He went into the gate and we all watched him waiting his turn with the other children - talking, playing, excited to be out on a beautifully sunny day. Not a trace of fear or apprehension could be found on his face. I was impressed by his tenaciousness. The other children were older and taller than he, but that didn't seem to deter him.

It was finally his turn. The little boy approached the mountain with assuredness and took his 1st step. He took another and then another. One time he got stuck, but he never looked back. He kept looking up - towards the top - the goal. He never stopped. A silent determination seemed to carry him. Silently, and I'm ashamed to admit, doubting - I watched him believing he would soon come sailing back down any minute. The mountain seemed so large - as if it might close in on him. My chest tightened. But he was persistent. Focused. Determined... Suddenly, I stood back in awe. I watched him intently; perhaps trying to figure out his secret. I thought of my own endless insecurities... I wondered where had he picked up this fierce motivation? Was he afraid... at all?

The crowd began to cheer him on, he was the smallest one participating. I heard the attendant say he would have liked to have had the little boy on his football team - because 'obviously, he wasn't scared of anything!' Everyone could see that this boy had the heart of a lion and his determination was electrifying; it inspired us all - I felt it at the very core of my being.

After reaching the very top he looked down and I could see victory dancing and glistening in his beautiful eyes. He had definitely given it his all. My heart sank - his spirit's unwavering capacity was more than I could bear. A tear slipped past my eye. My hands clapped wildly for him and my voice cheered him on.
When he was on the ground again, everyone was still cheering and rooting him on. He smiled and I moved towards him and hugged him fiercely, expressing my pride in his accomplishment. My eyes filled a bit. I realized quickly that it was more than seeing him accomplish the goal, it was knowing that HE knew he fiercely believed he could do it. You see - this little boy is my son.

After we left, I asked him if he had been afraid; if the climb had been scary. Speaking truthfully, he told me, "a little." I said, "but you kept going anyway - didn't you?" He responded, "yeah."
I hadn't expected him to admit he had been afraid.

We often look at others and see their success, their victories - but how many times do we stop to think about the trials/fears or the mountainous obstacle(s) they encountered and had to overcome to get where they are? How many times do we think about the risks they took - that promised them nothing in return?
Every one of us has a fear of something, but the idea is to "walk by faith." Never allow the fear to stop you. Accept it, BUT keep going. Keep pushing, keep striving, kicking and fighting for what you want; for your precious, precious dreams. Don't allow fear to stop your progress. As difficult as it may seem, we must push through life with courage and faith; we must champion through life - like the little boy - with the heart of a lion.

After he told me that he was a "little afraid," but that he kept going anyway - I told him that's what courage was. Courage is not about fearlessness, courage is about continuing the "fight" in spite of the fear.


Psalms 31:24 - Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

God's peace and love to you all

Democracy: Reawakening the American Dream

I listened to the words of a modern day philosopher recently and my mind was interrupted, my attention arrested and my spirit felt as though it come in contact with an angel of truth. It was a brief encounter, but an essential one and I am better because of it.

His speech was quickening; eye opening; thought provoking. It upheld recurring themes and personal ideologies of democracy, humanity and love.

He began with a "socratic" notion of how, "the unexamined life is not worth living." Of how we as Americans have to look at our lives, our decisions, our morals and our character. He spoke of, "the quality of one's soul." How integrity, compassion, "surrendering assumptions," and "dying daily," were critical to the fundamental development of character. He talked about not being afraid of death; that to lose the fear of dying, was to emancipate one's own soul.

He referenced Ralph Waldo Emerson (personal favorite), advising and supporting the notion that, "imitation is suicide." He said that every person should search, find and use his/her own voice. He talked about jazz and the complexity of its composition, naming John Coltrane and reaffirmed the ideal that "love is supreme" above all else.

He talked about America and how its society is becoming, "well adjusted to injustice."
About the historical tradition of "terrorism and American terrorism against peoples of African descent." How terrorism's roots began with the onslaught of lynchings and brutal killings of those upon whom the foundation of America, was built.

He expressed perspective of democracy. He said democracy was the advent of, "ordinary people fighting for power from elite corruption and subjugation." He spoke of economic incongruencies asserting that, '1% of American society lives with 49% of the wealth.' Highlighting the fact that 99% lives with only 51%. He emphasized the validity of 'critical interrogations' of the dogma of white supremacy. He said that we must have the courage to "think critically; always cutting against the grain."

The values expressed in his speech were timeless. They are essential truths to understanding life and humanity, culture and the plight of the human existence. We must continuously strive to not only produce fact, but realize truth. As we all toil to understand who we are and fight to reach our fullest potentials, we must also arduously endeavor to uphold the integrity of democracy and the righteous virtue of charity and humanity, always allowing love to reign supreme.

The quotations refereenced were from a speech given by Dr. Cornel West (scholar, philosopher, and theologian), professor of African-American Studies and philosophy of Religion at Harvard University.

c.m.