Are you overwhelmed by the needs of our world?  Are you inundated by your own must-dos and the demands of your family and church?  In the midst of our feelings of helplessness, I found these words: “Go Out with Good Courage.”

In the North Cascade Mountains of Washington state lies a retreat center called Holden Village.  This courageous community welcomes all people into the wilderness “to form and renew their relationship with God, the earth, and each other.”

The beautiful prayer that follows comes from Holden Village.  The phrase in the prayer that captured by attention was “good courage.”  Sustained by God’s guiding hand and supporting love, we receive the strength and direction to “go out with good courage.”   Holden Village describes these words as being for every season, every person, and every community.

I invite you to ponder this prayer and then go out with good courage.

“O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.  Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Your God of unconditional love goes with you.

Judy