How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith [B1810]

2023 HCDJ in nice clean condition. How We Learn to Be Brave is an inspirational guide to the key junctures in life that, if navigated with faith and discernment, pave the way for us to become our most courageous selves, by the bishop of the famed Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C.

On January 21, 2025, many Americans were introduced to Bishop Mariann Budde thanks to what The New York Times called "an extraordinary act of public resistance." During her prayer service for Donald J. Trump's second inauguration, Bishop Budde addressed the president directly, imploring him "to have mercy on the people in our country who are scared now," from those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community to immigrants and refugees. But for Bishop Budde, this moment was the culmination of a lifetime spent thinking about those pivot points when we're called on to push past our fears and act with strength. With How We Learn to Be Brave, she teaches us that being brave is not a singular occurrence; it's a journey that we can choose to undertake every day. Here, Bishop Budde explores the full range of decisive moments, from the most visible and dramatic (the decision to go), to the internal and personal (the decision to stay), to brave choices made with an eye toward the future (the decision to start), those born of suffering (the decision to accept that which we did not choose), and those that come unexpectedly (the decision to step up to the plate). Drawing on examples ranging from Harry Potter to the Gospel According to Luke, she seamlessly weaves together personal experiences with stories from scripture, history, and pop culture to underscore both the universality of these moments and the particular call each one of us must heed when they arrive. With Bishop Budde's wisdom, readers will learn to live and to respond according to their true beliefs and in ways that align with their best selves. How We Learn to Be Brave will provide much-needed fortitude and insight to anyone searching for answers in uncertain times.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "My Episcopal faith is one of justice, action, commitment and perseverance in one's belief. Jesus did not come here to quietly die, but to take up the call for love and justice for all. . . to have respect and dignity for all people. . . AND to DO SOMETHING and be committed to the pursuit of justice. Bishop Budde's book is a memoir, reflection, and a 'how to' book on all the above. . . A great read for not only Christians, but for humanists of all varieties."; "Inspiring and thought provoking. While I've finished reading this book cover to cover, I know I will return to it (and start marking off passages that I want to remember...something I didn't want to do on my first go round). Yes this is written by a Bishop/religious leader, but this is something anyone could (and should) read."; "Timely and relevant. We need more spiritual books like this that incorporate scripture while speaking to current times."