We are cowards.

Afraid of faith, afraid of belief, afraid of opinion,

we have emptied ourselves.

Afraid to be labeled or confronted,

we soften our features to appear more like the crowd.

The funny thing is, an internal softening happens too.

A show of a feeling becomes natural;

the feeling becomes true.

Our lies become honesty as the walls of faith

break.

 

I will not be a coward again.  Not without a fight.

I will stumble.  I will fall.  But I will not disgrace my Lord again.

 

I believe in God.

 

I believe in America.

 

I believe in family.

 

I believe in love.

 

I will not disgrace these which I love again.

Be brave with me, my friends, my neighbors, my enemies, strangers.

Take courage.

Believe what you believe and say it.  I do not have to change;

neither do you.  Do not change yourself on my account, for I will not on yours.

 

And, shock!  We shall emerge with few scrapes and bruises.

 

We are cowards.

We must not be.