By Abbey Adcox
Each year on the Youth Choir mission tour, we are asked to experience the week through a specific lens. This year, Darren asked us to consider how we might learn, love and be courageous throughout the week. In our evening gatherings he read the following poem by Pádraig Ó Tuama:
Courage comes from the heart
and we are always welcomed by God,
the heart of all being.
We bear witness to our faith,
knowing that we are called
to live lives of courage,
love and reconciliation
in the ordinary and extraordinary
moments of each day.
We bear witness, too, to our failures
and our complicity in the fractures of our world.
May we be courageous today.
May we learn today.
May we love today.
Amen.
Over the course of our time together, we shared what courage, learning and love might look like for each of us. It’s all too easy to place lofty expectations upon ourselves for grand revelations and gestures, but I don’t believe that is Ó Tuama’s hope for us. It was no surprise to me that as we shared in our small groups, the youth were in tune with the poet’s intent. Learning came through understanding the mission and needs of the agencies we connected with in New Orleans. Love was evident through acts of service and compassion, both to our neighbors and to our friends. Courage was demonstrated by stepping out of our comfort zones, making new friends and honoring exactly who God made us to be.
As we worship, may the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the rest found in Christ and the steadfast love of the Lord equip us to learn, love and be courageous in both the ordinary and extraordinary moments of each day. Let us remember that true courage is not about grand gestures but about small, consistent acts of faith and kindness. May our hearts be open to the lessons that each day brings, and may we find strength in knowing that we are part of a loving and supportive community, bound together by our shared commitment to follow God’s call.