THE HUNGRY FIRES OF COURAGE

My father recently took six of his granddaughters on a horse pack trip into the Ruby Mountains of Nevada. I was privileged to tag along and was amazed at the courage and deference the girls showed one another throughout the trip. I noticed everyone helping their cousin, voluntarily switching horses to make it easier on them, sacrificing their camp chair around the fire, etc. I was also amazed how fearlessly rode their ponies over mountain passes, especially since it was their first pack trip for most. What a wonderful combination of attributes for leaders to aspire to – courage, cooperation, and compassion.

They say rugged individualism settled the West, but I believe the bravery and community focus of women settlers made the difference. Every 24th of July, Utah celebrates Pioneer Day, when the Mormon pioneers first entered the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. In our little town, it is an even bigger celebration than Independence Day. I recently read a poem about the courage of pioneer women, who crossed thousands of miles of barren prairie many with little or no experience with livestock or wagons. Nearly 200 years later, riding over the same country, my daughters and nieces demonstrated similar, remarkable grit.

"They cut desire into short lengths and fed it to the hungry fires of courage. Long after—when the flames had died— molten gold gleamed in the ashes. They gathered it into bruised palms And handed it to their children And their children's children."