Bravery: the edge of reason…

By: Rev. Daniel J. Bradley –July 22nd, 2026, 4:15 AM 

“For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works! Thou knowest me right well; my frame was not hidden from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth. Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance; in thy book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” ^[1]

There is so much we don’t know about the human brain. It is something that in the 21^st century is still a mystery. Science has sought to unlock the secrets of the brain for years—but as much as they have learned, there is still a long way to go. I have always wondered what makes one person behave differently from another. Where do psychological illnesses come from, and in some cases, why don’t individuals ever recover from them?

What we do know about the brain is that it continues to evolve, shift, and change as we get older. Many of the individuals that I have worked with over the years have experienced the pain of Alzheimer's and serious bouts of dementia. Families and caregivers for these individuals take a toll on their physical, mental, and spiritual condition. Kelly Corrigan, a PBS host, author, and incredibly successful podcaster, addresses these issues and some hard truths about what it means to really love and care for another individual in her TED Talk, "To Love Is to Be Brave."  One of the greatest quotes from that talk is the following:

"Bravery is the great guts to move closer to the wound, as composed as a war nurse holding eye contact and saying these seven words: Tell me more. What else? Go on. That’s how the brave shine; that’s all they do. They say, “Tell me more. What else? Go on.” Even if they’re scared of what might happen next, even if they have no training or experience to prepare them for this moment. Even if it’s late and they have an early flight."

When I found this TED Talk several years ago, it was what I needed at that moment—at the time, I was struggling to make sense of the everyday pain and suffering I was experiencing. I soon began to realize that all of us need that care and love.

There are times when this concept of bravery and love left me with more questions about how to just sit with my own grief and suffering.

It also taught me how to sit with another person, probe for details, and ‘keep my mouth shut’ and listen to their story.

The irony is this: that is what God does for us. God waits for us to pour out our hearts and listens in ways we cannot fathom or understand. Sometimes the answers to our questions are deep down inside our hearts—our brains and bodies; other times they are neon signs from heaven. Truth be told, I believe God allows us, through prayer and silence, to articulate what is really at the heart of the issues that we face. Prayer is not so much for God as it is for us.’ I realize that this may be a radical concept, but what is more freeing than allowing your heart to be open before the Lord and releasing all that is within your heart to God who already knows you?

My heart has been burdened for the past week or so. A couple that has become like second parents to me over the past thirty years is going through a season of hell that has taken them to the edge of reason; doctors, hospital emergency rooms, and now end-of-life issues. I can’t imagine losing a spouse, especially after sixty-plus years of marriage.

In just a few short hours, Mary and I will travel to spend some time—to offer love, grace, and support in this time of pain and grief. We will sit and listen, asking only the questions Kelly reminds us: “Tell me more. What else? Go on.” It is my hope that we have the bravery to move close to their wound and keep our mouths shut as we listen, offering only our presence and the peace of God in these dread-filled moments.

Please keep Mary and me, as well as our friends, in your prayers. God bless you and keep you, and make his face shine on you, giving hope in the face of the unthinkable—to be brave, “…to move closer to the wound, as composed as a war nurse holding eye contact and saying these seven words: Tell me more. What else? Go on.”

^[1] The Revised Standard Version (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1971), Ps 139:13–17.