Open to the Spirit
Today’s word: Bravery
1) On this week that precedes Remembrance Day our thoughts turn naturally to the brave acts of all those who took part in the war efforts down through history. While governments are good at awarding medals for bravery in the line of duty many are the unsung heroes that go through life unrecognized for their courage and perseverance. It may happen on the battlefield but more likely we see it in everyday life in rehabilitation centres, on the school playgrounds and in our very homes. The courage to carry on despite setbacks, disappointments and failures is one of the defining characteristics of humanity.
I have watched as the field I initially trained in, computer technology, gradually replaced humans with automated processes in many fields of endeavour. If we believe the science fiction of Star Wars, we will eventually have whole armies of robots, made to kill humans much more efficiently that human soldiers ever could. Yet bravery plays no part in these kinds of combats. Bravery, wherever we witness it, sends a message. The human spirit has the ability to rise above the odds of success, to risk self for the sake of others, to hope when there is no evidence to support it and to inspire all of us. No robot could ever match that!
In order to tackle the problems our world faces today such climate change, large economic disparities and degradation of democratic systems, the world needs each of us to find the courage to do what is right. May God be our guide and our strength in the times ahead.
) My father turned 18 and signed up to be in the navy in 1943. I can only imagine what that must have been like. He was attending Bishop's University at the time. Many years later I too was attending Bishop's at the age of 18. I loved that time of my life. I can hardly imagine leaving that behind to fight a war. His generation knew a lot about bravery. I will wear a poppy with pride this weekend.
My aunt twenty-five years later gave me a different vision of courage. She was principal of a small local high school. A student in grade eleven got pregnant halfway through the year. The School Board wanted her to leave in February. My aunt thought differently and fought for her. She convinced them to let her stay and graduate, though they were not happy about it. My aunt was a great support to her and even gave her a lead role in the high school production of “Our Town” in the spring, just a few weeks before she would give birth. Yes, she did graduate. My aunt showed true bravery.
Today we see bravery in teenagers like Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg. They have stood up for their causes in spite of threats, and in the case of Malala, physical violence. Too many of us are
2afraid to speak out in our modern world for fear of being insulted or publicly shamed. Bravery means caring more about the greater good and less about our own personal comfort. My dad chose to volunteer rather than enjoying the typical life of a teenager. His bravery, and that of countless others, helped create a better world. ) Since earliest times we have gathered to celebrate the brave among us and regale ourselves with tales of daring deeds. Remembering, rehearsing, imagining. In school we learned the ancient stories and memorized epic poems extolling legendary exploits of cultural heroes, mostly builders of nations or victors in battle, going all the way back to the Greeks and Romans. I can still sing opening lines of a Latin hymn to Aeneas celebrating his history-shaping Trojan victory: Arma virumque cano Troiae que primus ab oris…
Later I memorized whole episodes of Star Wars with my grandson who never tired of replaying them. Garbed in bathrobe before the TV, he would brandish his plastic light saber with Luke Skywalker, practicing how to conquer Darth Vader and be a hero in the world.
Imagining myself the triumphant warrior or powerful ruler was never my lot. Instead I eavesdropped on my mother and aunts. Neighbours over coffee told closer to home legends of birth and death, relationship battles lost and won, strategies for dealing with personal defeat, surmounting obstacles to happiness, learning or growth, and how they kept their
3families alive. These along with the novels I endlessly read as a teenager taught me to look for bravery hidden in the quiet corners of everyday lives.
This Remembrance Day I see bravery everywhere. Who has not, in a world perpetually at war, been touched in some way by its losses, past or present? So I wear both red and white poppies. Red out of respect and gratitude for the fallen and those heroes who serve today, even facing death to ensure that generations beyond them will survive and thrive. White because their sacrifice is closely interwoven with countless civilians who also died, and their bravery shared by the families, friends, loved ones and children, born or unborn, who lost whatever future lives they might have lived with those who perished. Let us in our love and gratitude include them all, and celebrate them by bravely working for a world of justice and peace.
One word, only three voices this time - and room for you to add your own: What does bravery mean to you? When have you witnessed or experienced it?
Rev. Mead Baldwin pastors the Waterville & North Hatley pastoral charge; Rabbi Boris Dolin leads the Dorshei-emet community in Montreal; Rev. Lee Ann Hogle ministers to the Ayer's Cliff, Magog & Georgeville United Churches; Rev. Carole Martignacco, Unitarian Universalist is retired from ministry with Uuestrie and now resides in St. Andrews bythe-sea NB, but keeps one foot in the Townships by continuing with this column.