James Baldwin once wrote:,
“When you’re writing, you’re trying to find out something which you don’t know. The whole language of writing for me is finding out what you don’t want to know, what you don’t want to find out. But something forces you to anyway.”
These words capture my struggle to articulate the depth of my feelings. Baldwin’s insight sheds light on why I’ve grappled with giving voice to the pain and solidarity I feel for the Palestinian people—why my brain resists comprehending the inhumane acts committed against them, and yet, I’m compelled to record my disdain anyway.
So today, I found myself reflecting on life as a Record – a recorded set of experiences filled with love, laughter, sorrow, pain, joy, and rage, which led me to ponder how my "Record," will be documented.
This reflection brings me to another record. A set of experiences of laugher, pain, joy and rage and the present-day genocide against the Palestinian people. You see, the violent acts against humanity in Gaza have profoundly affected me, birthing a mournful rage that has altered how I view my own individual record and the world around me. This shift has sparked a deeper contemplation of the notion of my record.
So, what does this have to do with Navigating Courage?
Navigating courage is a humanistic approach to leading and being. It's about making a deliberate effort to document, to leave a record, and to collaborate with others to transform both our individual and collective conditions towards a more Just world.
You see, this post isn't just a reflection on my personal journey, it is an acknowledgment that my life is interconnected to the plight of the Palestinian people. Their lives-- my life are records of God's creative beauty and our collective fight for freedom.
Therefore, today, I am creating a record of my unrelenting feelings of horror, helplessness, and most importantly, a resolute commitment to stand against all acts against humanity, including the pervasive silence surrounding these issues. For our actions and our silences will be enduring records in history, a testament to our courage (or the lack thereof) to confront injustice head-on and pave the way for freedom and justice no matter the cost. It is time to Navigate Courage and face the things we don't want to know-- ANYWAY. #FreePalestine #NavigatingCourage