24 - Choosing Courage

My husband brought home our first computer in 1986 - an Apple IIE - a "Mothers’ Day gift." I didn’t touch the thing for 2 years. Then, slowly, I began using it for word processing, then to write and produce a newsletter for the local Girl Scout council. We went PC and upgraded and upgraded again, and suddenly there was the World Wide Web and Jews in cyberspace. My question posted on the bulletin board in the Judaism forum of Compuserve led to emails and bulletin board discussions with people from all over the United States, Canada, England, Israel. Now I am experiencing the fascination and frustration of "real time" interaction during my weekly chat on Healing and Prayer in the Jewish Community Jewish Life room of AOL. Lately we have been discussing courage. Where do we get the courage to survive the hand we are dealt? And how can it bring us closer to God? The conversation flows and falters and twists as several people at a time type out their comments and sorrows. Even shrouded in the anonymity of our screen names, we take a chance in sharing, in revealing and uncovering old wounds. We also take a chance that the words scrolling past us will be more than an hour’s diversion, but will offer an opportunity to explore with others our search for wholeness.

Twenty-Four

Choosing Courage

Turn me toward the light.
Uncover the choices that flourish
When I relinquish my yesterdays.

Turn me toward the light.
Unveil the hopes that grow
When I face my realities.

Turn me toward today.
Turn me to a vision of possibilities,
That denies apprehensions.

Turn me toward today.
Turn me to this moment of extension,
That opens old constrictions.

Before me You place iridescence
To soften brittle sorrows.
Let me rest on the cushion of Your care,
Comforted by Your regard.

Beside me You heap soft pillows
To ease ancient grief.
Bolster my courage with Your kindness
As You support my head.

Stretch the stiff limbs of my confusion,
And let me rise, renewed,
To turn into Your light.