The Lion and Me

Our pastor spoke about courage and bravery one recent Sunday and it was a message I needed to hear.  Our Call to Worship words spoke of dawning understandings, stretching spirits, and our reaching toward God's bright and beckoning wisdom.  The Scripture readings ranged from Deuteronomy and Joshua to Proverbs and Corinthians, admonishing the reader to be strong, be courageous, be brave, be steadfast, be on guard.  Afterward, several of my fellow parishioners and I talked about the things we were encountering in our lives that were causing us to reach into our very depths for some bravery.  It made me think of the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, who was seeking courage.  Don't we all recognize a bit of the Cowardly Lion in ourselves as we navigate the challenges of life, searching all around and inside us for that bit of courage that will help another while, at the same time, comforting our own spirits, renewing our strength and deterring our fears?  Now is the time to be brave.