Gratitudes

For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes.

—Dag Hammarskjöld

So many inspiring leaders are bringing their whole hearts to their work and making a difference in the world because of the generosity of our incredible supporters of the Center for Courage & Renewal. Deep gratitude to the individuals and foundations who believed this experiment in integrity was too true to fail and too good to limit, who gave of their time, treasure, and talent.

To all the leaders whose stories appear on these pages, and everyone whose stories are between the lines, too. Thank you for being the courageous ones who are making a difference every day by connecting your soul and role.

In Let Your Life Speak, Parker Palmer writes, “Truth is an eternal conversation about things that matter, conducted with passion and discipline. Truth cannot possibly be found in the conclusions of the conversation, because the conclusions keep changing.”

My great gratitude to Parker, for being in this conversation with me through your wise words and true friendship. Because of you I have the practice of paradox and Quaker Zen koans, like the one quoted here, for every occasion! Great gratitude to Marcy Jackson and Rick Jackson for your perspective, wisdom, and incredible hearts as cofounders and senior fellows of the Center for Courage & Renewal. Special thanks to Terry Chadsey, the executive director who said we should write this book and then let me do it; your leadership gifts are in these pages as well. If it were not for these four leaders who founded and stewarded the Center all these years, there would not have been a Courage Way story to tell.

Heartfelt gratitude to all the wonderful Courage & Renewal facilitators and board members who make all this possible, too—your passion and gifts planted the seeds that grew, blossomed, and are now bearing such significant fruit. Thank you so much for talking through ideas and sharing your experience so that I could see the big picture over time and place, as well as the details up close.

It’s truly the people we work with who make all the difference. A deep bow of gratitude to my editor, Sheryl Fullerton, for your wise counsel, encouragement, and patience with my process, and extra-large thanks for connecting us with the great people at Berrett-Koehler. Thank you, Erin Lane, for the gift of your editing eyes and writer’s heart. Much gratitude goes to Marianne Houston, Barb Hummel, Ken Saxon, and Janet Smith for introducing me to amazing leaders.

Thanks to our new executive director, Terasa Cooley, whose leadership will continue creating a container for the larger story to unfold. And to the Center for Courage & Renewal staff through the years—you know who you are—thanks for showing up daily with your whole selves and keeping it real. I am grateful for all the conversations we’ve had!

To family and friends whose love makes each day worthwhile. You kept me going: Brian Casey, Wil Vickroy, Dianne Dickerson, Moira Gray, Kathy and Grace Matsey, and Kristen Peters. Thank you to my sister, Jenéne Francis, and my parents, Rena Francis and Jeff Francis, for all your love since day one.

The universe conspires in marvelous ways, through people who deliver gifts at the perfect moment, rarely knowing their part. Gratitude goes to Carrie Newcomer and Alan Claassen for your songs; to Steve Georgiou, Joe Sarnelle, and Marcia Kelly for connecting me to Robert Lax; to Maria Popova for curating so much wisdom with your Brain Pickings; and to Denise Levertov for inspiring me with your poetry.