stuff i tell my sister

This is yesterday’s Facebook post from Oklahoma State Senator Rick Brinkley. It spoke to me….and I wanted to pass it along.  Here’s to courage.  Here’s to Hope.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen the government shut down, neighborhoods in fear because of so many shootings, outrage over the beating death of a 2-year-old, and a nation with its priorities so out of whack that it’s government thought it could shut down open air memorials and not pay the death benefits of its soldiers. Benefits that go to the most vulnerable of our society….the spouses & the children of soldiers who gave their full measures for our freedom while the government they are fighting for “forgot” about their children, spouses, and parents.

We all whine about the “way things are.” But, this nation was not founded, designed, nor defended by whiners. In the formation of our nation, our Founding Fathers may have momentarily felt like victims, but they summoned anger & courage to change things.

From Facebook to the 24-hour cable news channels and the older men drinking coffee at the doughnut shop to the young moms in the carpool lane, we are a nation that is becoming increasingly angry. At least we are moving from complacency.

We must find our Hope, again.

Many of you know my favorite quote is by St. Augustine who lived from 354 to 430. He said “Hope has two beau­ti­ful daugh­ters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.”
Our anger keeps us in Hopelessness. Courage brings us to Hope.

Our nation. Your Family. You. They will all remain in a hopelessness as long we remain in Anger. We must summon the Courage of our forefathers and of our soldiers, if we want to regain our Hope. If we want to “see that (things) do not remain the way they are.”

In order to move toward Hope, you must first move from Anger to Courage.

You. Me. We. Must start today. Leave Anger. Embrace Courage. Regain Hope.