Download: PDF for October 2026 on COURAGE here       

PDFs from previous months here: Sept. 2026 - Beginnings 

DAILY PRACTICE

Chalice Lighting – To face the world’s shadows, a chalice of light. To face the world’s coldness, a chalice of warmth. To face the world’s terrors, a chalice of courage. To face the world’s turmoil, a chalice of peace. May its glow fill our spirits, our hearts, and our lives. - Lindsay Bates

 

Reading - The word ‘courage’ comes from the old French word cœur meaning ‘heart.’ So ‘courage’ is the measure of your heartfelt participation in the world… The human way is to hope that there’s a way to take that courageous step – without having one’s heart broken. And it’s my contention that there is no sincere path a human being can take without breaking his or her heart.”  - David Whyte

Chalice Extinguishing - May we seek the courage to be open, and set aside the closed fist, the stinging retort, the barbed judgment of others.  May we seek within ourselves the strength to stand exposed and unguarded before the world, not because we cannot be any other way but because we have chosen this better way.  - Rev. Douglas Taylor

FOR PONDERING

  • How has a fear that took root in your younger years affected your life? Does it continue today? How do you deal with it?
  • What is the greatest act of personal courage that you have personally directly witnessed and what effect did it have on you?
  • What role does comfort play in the struggle between fear and courage for you? What do think about the idea that the secret to feeling less fear is to stop trying to keep yourself safe?
  • Describe a brave moment from your life when you did not run away. What did that feel like, what happened as a result? How are you being called to bravely not run away today?

QUOTES

  • “Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Do not be afraid.” - Frederick Buechner
  • “Only one thing is more frightening than speaking your truth. And that is not speaking it.” - Audre Lorde
  • “We’ve been trained to be afraid of our own yes, and what feels good in our lives. Get curious about that. Who benefits from you being terrified to be happy?” - adrienne maree brown
  • “Daring to set boundaries is having the courage to love ourselves even when we risk disappointing others.” - Brene Brown

BOOKS

  • On Courage: How to Be a Dissident in an Age of Fear by Julia Angwin, Ami Fields-Meyer
  • Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion by Pema Chodron
  • Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown
  • So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color by Caro de Robertis

MOVIES

  • The Lives of Others
  • Shut Up and Sing
  • Defending Your Life
  • Project Hail Mary