Courage

Dear Partners in Green,

Lately, it has become evident as we move headlong into an uncertain and ominous future, that a virtue we must embrace and nurture within ourselves is courage, defined by Merriam Webster as the mental or moral strength to risk, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. But more than one type of courage is required of us as we move into this future and strive to create an environmentally sustainable world.

To begin with, we will need the courage to fear, to look into a dire future in which environmental degradation has not been addressed, a future in which we can see population growth, urbanization, and climate change result in ecological collapse, social unrest, and personal suffering. 

And then we will need the courage to hope, that is to have an expectation that we can successfully address the environmental devastation and make a significant difference. Hope has been described as an engine without which change is impossible.

And finally, we will need the courage to act, to stand up for what we know to be right. Our actions can be changes in our daily lives, political action, speaking out, teaching, demonstrating, becoming a committed persistent presence. Inaction is not an option. 

Courage requires fortitude and perseverance. We must exercise our moral authority, an authority bestowed on us by children not yet born, indeed by all life on this planet.

The truth is that “those who step forward to do the hard work of this journey face uncertainty—about the consequences of their actions, intended and unintended; about whether the rest of the world will follow their example; about just which devilish details of action will really deliver big results, and about just what sort of impacts we will experience even in a best-case-scenario. That’s why it requires courage. But the alternative is not a viable option.” *

Every generation has had its moment; well this is ours. Writing this, I do not know the outcome of the election, but whatever it may be, our responsibility does not change. We must stand up, speak out, show up. If not us, then who, if not now, then when? This is our moment. 

The task for this month is to inspire each other to have courage and take action.

• How do you stay inspired to live environmentally conscious lives?
• How do you think we can be instruments for change?
• How can we get the word out and inspire others?

I leave you with this song, I Was Here, sung by Beyonce for the United Nations World Humanitarian Day. May the world know that we were here.

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Wishing peace and health to you and your loved ones.

Thank you for being on this journey.

Till next time,

Beth