The courage we can muster up inside

Been thinking a lot about courage this week. About how it doesn't have a thing to do with whether you're scared or not. About how it has everything to do with putting one foot in front of the other, having the hand of someone who loves you on your shoulder, and keeping your head up.

I have three friends who are summoning theirs right now—one because of a sudden bend in the road; the others, due to a long view of the climb ahead. To you three, I submit The Wood Song, written by the tender and talented Emily Saliers.

the thin horizon of a plan is almost clear
my friends and I have had a hard time
bruising our brains hard up against change
all the old dogs and the magician

now I see we're in the boat in two by twos
only the heart that we have for a tool we could use
and the very close quarters are hard to get used to
love weighs the hull down with its weight

but the wood is tired
and the wood is old
and we'll make it fine
if the weather holds
but if the weather holds
then we'll have missed the point
that's were i need to go

no way construction of this tricky plan
was built by other than a greater hand
with a love that passes all our understanding
watching closely over the journey

yeah but what it takes to cross the great divide
seems more than all the courage i can muster up inside
but we get to have some answers when we reach the other side
the prize is always worth the rocky ride

but the wood is tired
and the wood is old
and we'll make it fine
if the weather holds
but if the weather holds
then we'll have missed the point
that's where i need to go

sometimes i ask to sneak a closer look
skip to the final chapter of the book
and maybe steer us clear from some of the pain that it took
to get us where we are this far

but the question drowns in its futility
and even i have got to laugh at me
cause no one gets to miss the storm of what will be
just holding on for the ride

the wood is tired
the wood is old
and we'll make it fine
if the weather holds
but if the weather holds
then we'll have missed the point
that's where i need to go

We may not get to miss the "storm of what will be," but we're all in this little boat together, and the hull is weighed down with Love.

Courage, friends.