Things to Think About

“Brave men are all vertebrates,” said G.K. Chesterton. “They have their softness on the surface and their toughness in the middle. But these modern cowards are all crustaceans; their hardness is all on the cover, and their softness is inside.”  Michael Gerson, Washington Post 13 Oct 2017

I can’t read this quote without thinking about the brave people who quietly, and through their actions support others, especially if those “others” don’t look like them as opposed to the “crustaceans” in society who are afraid to accept what Vaclav Havel called “the otherness of others” and resort to the vitriol of cowardice.

The next time you witness the actions of a vertebrate, shake their hand and thank them for their bravery. The next time you witness the actions of a crustacean, be worthy of a brave person wanting to shake your hand.

Good luck on your journey!