Tag Archive | courage

Changing times

May19

We can play it safe and follow the status quo
Or we can live based on principle and stand out

The courage to question the norm
When the norm seems unfair
The courage to stand for friendship and justice
The courage to defend a fellow man or woman
This kind of courage is admirable anywhere

What’s unfair is unfair
No matter how much the truth is twisted and turned
In the age of instant communication
It’s harder to convince people of whatever one wants
Those old ways don’t work anymore
Soon, what’s been hidden will come to fore

May we have the courage to stand
For what’s true and fair
May we break our silence when we see injustice

There was a time propaganda would work
But now everyone is looking for proof

To all those who stand for truth
I salute you, I honour you!
May 16th, 2016

Connection

Aug24

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Connecting to others is what life’s about
Life without connections is meaningless
Connection is based on vulnerability
Letting our guard down
Appearing less than perfect
Admitting to not knowing
To uncertainty
To confusion
Asking for help when we fall down
Sharing the hard times

If we let someone into our lives
And confide in them
They will confide in us
But someone has to have the courage
To be the first one

We have all known adversity
But we will only share that with
People whom we feel close to
Those who won’t judge us
Those who will have time for us
Those who will hang around in tough times

These kinds of connections
Only come about if we are open about our ups and downs
And are willing to take off the mask of ‘feeling fine’

August 24th, 2015

When the door opens

Aug19

Sometimes a door opens unexpectedly…

Sometimes we are not even aware of the
Existence of the door…

But once the door is open
We need to step inside and look around
Pay attention, observe

There are bound to be interesting things
Unknown things
Even another wold we were not aware of
Until then

Once the door is open
Courage is needed to explore this new realm
And take on the challenges it presents us with

Once the door is open
We should not question it
We should walk right in
And partake of the delights of
This new landscape

Showing the real me!

Dec18

The real me!

She was not afraid to show her face
At a time when showing her face was akin to a crime

But she was not afraid
She removed the veil and showed her face
Some were confused
Some were perturbed
Some were shocked!

But she was not afraid
She had the courage of her convictions
She knew who she was

I draw on her courage to show you the real me
To remove the mask of pretence
The mask of ‘acceptable’
The mask of ‘normal’

And I don’t think the real me
Will shock others so much
Because I’m not that unique
My experiences are my neighbours’ experiences
My friends’ experiences
Or perhaps yours

I’m not so unique
Any pain I have experienced
Has been experienced by others as well
Any challenge I’ve had
Has been the lot of others as well

She showed her face when showing her face
Was akin to a crime
All I’m doing is showing you the real me!

Lida Berghuis
December 18th, 2014

Silenced?

Aug22

She was silenced …
Or was she?
Her words will enchant us for years to come
How can one silence a trumpet blast?
How can one hide the sun?

She had to wear a veil and speak from behind a curtain
But even though her physical beauty was lost to others
Her inner beauty was evident in her precious, gem-like words

She could not travel alone
But travel she did
Far and wide
How can a tornado be bottled?
How can a raging river be stopped?

She had no say in who she would marry
But she did not stay in the confines of the home
With the one she did not choose or love

She was not supposed to lead
A woman’s place was at home, not in mosks and schools
But she broke those rules too
Thousands of men and women were devoted to her and
Hung on her every word

Her courage and strength and her fearless temperament
Were her shield
Her conviction, her guide
At a time when women
Were not supposed to be seen or heard
In a culture that did not value women
She broke the mould and cried out!

Her gifts were other-worldy
Her dreams, her guide
Her heart was set on freeing women from bondage
Her inspiration, the Word of God!
Don’t, can’t and it has not been done
Had no effect on this spiritual giant of our time!

Lida Berghuis
August 22nd, 2014

Road trip

Aug16

The journey of life is not a smooth road trip
Detours seem to sneak up on us everywhere
Bumps appear all along the way
Sometimes all our energy goes into climbing a hill
That does not seem to end
Sometimes we find ourselves careening down a hill
At breakneck speed

Perhaps one of the hardest things in life
Is to find balance
To know when to slow down
When to keep going despite bad weather
And how long to drive before coming to a stop

Finding balance requires getting to know oneself
One’s limits
One’s strengths
One’s gifts

It requires audacity to be different
To stand out
It requires the courage of one’s convictions
When others think we are wrong
It requires wisdom that comes
From facing the challenges of life

Finding balance is a life-long quest
And like many other things in life
It’s about the journey and not the destination

Lida Berghuis
August 11th, 2014
Green Acre

Under the water of trials…

Aug2

Deep under water
Pushed down by the weight of life
A heavy load that does not allow me to emerge
From the watery grave that surrounds me

Should I give in?
Should I fight?
Do I want to live, or die?

Giving up is easy
Not much effort is required
But fighting takes courage, strength and
The will to go on

Surrounded by water
Pressed down by the weight of the world
At the juncture of
Giving up or marching on…

Once again,
I choose to fight
To laugh in the face of trials
I choose to go on…
But why?

Because I’m not one to choose the easy path
Anyone can do that
I accept the challenge
I will fight!

So, I gather all my might
Say a silent prayer
And push up!

And amazingly
The weight lifts
I emerge from water
I can breathe again
I’m alive!

I’m not alive because I fear death
I’m alive because death will come in its own good time
I need not spur it on

In a world full of trials
My mission is to march on
Giving up is not an option
Suffering has its reasons
I’m here for a reason
And to fulfil that
I will stay around…

Lida Berghuis
July 31st, 2014
Inspired by Inception sound track
and a scene in The Signature of All Things

Wisdom

Jul19

It is said that with wisdom comes the ability
To solve difficult problems

Solving difficult problems requires courage
Courage to stand up for what is right

Solving problems requires love
Love that gives one the courage to go on

Solving problems requires patience
Patience under all circumstances

Solving problems requires strength
Strength to endure difficult times

Solving difficult problems leads to unity
Unity, the ultimate reward!

Lida Berghuis
July 17th, 2014

The many colours of courage!

Dec22

Courage comes in so many shapes and forms
For some, it’s in chasing a storm
For some, it’s in fighting a worthy fight
For some, it’s in singing their song

Courage comes in many colours too
Black for daring
Brown for persevering
And gold for feeling worthy!

Courage!
Be fearless I was told!
And yet I thought
I had some courage before
But as we grow
Our courage also needs to grow

Courage to be who we are meant to be
Courage to share our gifts
Courage to remove the mask of pretense
Courage to remove the veil of fear

Courage to see the signs
Courage to listen to our guides

Courage to live our dreams
Courage is what I need!

Lida Berghuis
April 26th, 2010

Courage!

Nov15

Courage to change
Courage to grow
Courage to see things
From another view point

Courage to learn
Courage to explore
Courage to go where
One has not gone before

Courage to dream
Courage to work toward that dream
Courage to persevere
Endlessly

Courage to get up
When we fall
Courage to learn
And move on

Courage to face our fears
And overcome
Courage to accept that yet again
We may fall

Courage to love
And be loved
Courage to be able to
Stand one’s ground

Courage to be different
Stand out
Courage to say
What others might not

Courage to be in the
Vanguard of change
Courage is needed
If we want change

Lida Berghuis
April 16th
Montreal Shrine