Marshal Courage   (Part 2)                                       (back to Part 1)
--Be A Catalyst for Love

Back in my elementary school days, Beverly Cleary’s books
featuring Ramona Quimby were required reading.  There's a scene
where little Ramona practices writing her name in class.  After
printing the "Q" of her last name, she draws in ears and whiskers
to make it look like a cat.  Your average teacher might have frowned
on such silliness, but Ramona’s praises the creativity and wins her
student’s love.  Only when there is love do we begin to lose our
fear of speaking up and being ourselves.

In 2006 I was watching the Super Bowl with a group of friends
when on came this commercial that felt out of place for the biggest
American sporting event of the year: Dove’s Campaign for Real
Beauty, which proclaimed that beauty comes in all colors, shapes
and sizes.  It was a surprising message, one that went beyond the
typical “if you care about yourself, you’ll buy our product” spiel.  Here
was a company telling women “we think you're beautiful no matter
what.”  If only everything in the world could be stated so beautifully.  
And unconditionally.

I love my boyfriend.  I love my wife.  I love the people I work with.  I
love my parents.  I love my country.  How many of these can you
say?  A good relationship is simple arithmetic.  One person who
cares + another person who cares = 2 people who care about each
other.  A bad relationship is one where people are constantly
calculating their words to create drama.  How can I be charming?  
How can I be mean?  How can I make others feel stupid?  How can
I fool everyone else?    

The greatest leaders of the world have all inspired us to love
them through their caring actions.  Mother Teresa is one of the
best examples, she who seemed to have no limits on her love for
the weak and poor.  From my own life, I can point to my high school
history teacher who always had a kind word for me.  I will never
forget my first boss who made sure I was eating lunch every day.  
Nor my grandmother, who stood by me until the day she died.

To build courage in this world, we must allow others to speak up;
find something good in what they say; and encourage them to
speak up again.  We do these things not because it calculates to
our advantage, but because it lifts someone else higher.  If all of us
had the dexterity to speak and listen in a more loving manner--in
the classroom, at home, work and in our communities--we’d be
one step closer to creating a world free of monsters.

Move on to
Lesson 3   Generate Confidence
Lesson 2   Marshal
Courage
--Be a Catalyst for Love