We Are "Free", Yet Still Burdened

Give me the courage to live,
Give me the courage to be free
And endure the burden of freedom
And the loneliness of those without chains;
Let me not be trapped by success,
Nor by failure, nor pleasure, nor grief,
Nor malice, nor praise, nor remorse!
Give me the courage to go on!
Head high, spirit winged, like a god--
On...on...till the shadows draw close.
Then even when darkness shuts down,
And I go out alone, as I came,
Naked and blind as I came--
Even then, gracious God, hear my prayer:
Give me courage to live!


Howard Thurman
(1899-1981)