One Moment of Courage

For many of us, these are dark days.

Chaos and uncertainty are swirling around our federal government. A growing number of state and federal elected officials seem more focused on gaining attention through outrage rather than seeking solutions that address our shared problems, further harming communities that have been historically and purposefully marginalized. And a small but vocal group of elected officials are pushing their personal ideological convictions to influence public laws, blurring the line between private choices and government edicts.

Make no mistake: the pace of change and outrageousness in the last few weeks have been by design. In the face of such overwhelm, it can be difficult to orient yourself and find a moment of hope in the darkness.

But I want to remind folks that change can happen. We only need to display one moment of courage. Small or large, those acts of courage demonstrate to others that there is resistance in the face of injustice, that people still care, and that change is possible.

What that moment of courage looks like will be different for every individual. Maybe it’s sending an email to an elected official, or making a phone call to their office. Showing up at a public meeting-or better yet, speaking up at a public meeting to share your concerns. Or better still, bringing a friend. This moment could be as simple as correcting misinformation in a conversation with a friend or as bold as organizing a rally.

These acts may seem insignificant at the moment, but courage is contagious. When one person stands up, others take notice. Your willingness to act empowers folks around you who may be feeling hopeless. One voice speaking out encourages another, and then another, until what once seemed impossible starts to feel within reach.

Consider the stories of people who sparked change throughout history. Oklahoma City’s own Clara Luper and some of her Black students sat at a whites-only lunch counter in downtown Oklahoma City in the 1960s. Her quiet actions helped shape the civil rights movement in the fight to end segregation.

As a teenager, Malala Yousafzai defied the Taliban by advocating for girls’ education in Pakistan, surviving an assassination attempt, and becoming a global voice for education rights.

These moments started small – just one person making a choice to address a wrong they perceived in the world. But, they cascaded into something much more significant.

Not every act of courage will make the history books, and that’s okay. What matters is that you take action. You show up. You decide not to stay silent in the face of injustice. Because when you take that step, I promise others will follow. And when enough of us find our courage, we will tip the balance toward change.

So ask yourself: What is the one moment of courage you can choose today? Whatever it is, take that step. Because courage, once set in motion, does not stop. It spreads. It grows. And eventually, it transforms the world.