May 20, 2026
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
My wife and I talk to our boys a lot as we travel. They ask wonderful questions and we do our best to fill our time with curiosity and search for answers together. Riding to Cub Scouts the other night, we passed a tall grass field. We’d been talking about snakes that day and I said that field likely was home to several copperheads. I reminded him it was best to steer clear and let them have their home because stepping on or near one could get him bit. As he often responds, he asked, “Why?” I told him that most things nature attack when they’re scared, including people. He was incredulous.
“We don’t do that! We run away from danger!” I snickered. I have tried to teach him as a tiny human in the world to flee danger. But he continued with equal passion, “Unless we can help! Then we run toward it! Like when you helped put out the fire!” He was referring to a few weeks ago in our neighborhood. A long drought and dry conditions had led to a brush fire in our neighborhood, which we encountered on a bike ride. He had waited safely across the street while a neighbor and I rushed to put out the grass and fence in someone’s backyard, as three fire departments arrived to battle the blaze on the other side of the fence. We had run toward the fire. We knew we could help.
As usual, my son had had articulated something we adults struggle to balance. Our instinct, as creatures, can be to respond in fear, to strike when we are in danger. We often see avoidance as the opposite. And yet, both of those reactions are purely instinctual for self-preservation. Our calling as people of community and faith is courage. The wisdom he’d found in watching this neighbor and I was that we are bound in love to help where we can and when we can.
God commands us to be courageous and promises to be with us. We can choose to respond differently when we feel attacked than to be fearful and flee or to lash out. We can choose to be people of love and courage. What courageous act of love are you called to this week? Because somewhere, you can help.
Prayer
Lord, where I can help, send me with courage, be by my side, send me to love by my words and deeds. Amen.
Rev. Brian Daoust
Login To Leave Comment