The brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful

The words of Ann Voskamp ring as if spoken by the prophets of old: “The brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful and all things true, even in the small, who give thanks for it and discover joy even in the here and now, they are the change agents who bring fullest Light to all the world.” These are not mere phrases, but a summons to a higher way of being. They call us to courage—not the courage of sword and spear, but the deeper valor of the spirit: to see with eyes of gratitude and to rejoice in what is present, even when shadows fall.

The brave here are not warriors who conquer nations, but those who conquer despair. They are the men and women who, amidst toil, suffering, and fleeting moments, choose to dwell upon the good, to behold the beautiful, and to cling to the true. Such a choice is no small thing, for it is easier to see the ruin, the corruption, the endless disappointments of life. But the soul that lifts its gaze toward light, even when darkness presses near, is the one who transforms not only itself, but all who encounter it.

Consider the story of Corrie ten Boom, who endured the horrors of Ravensbrück concentration camp during the Second World War. Surrounded by cruelty, starvation, and death, she and her sister Betsie chose still to give thanks, even for the lice that infested their barracks—because the lice, despised by all, kept the guards away and gave the prisoners moments of prayer and fellowship. In their gratitude, they discovered a strange joy that no oppressor could extinguish. Their courage to see the small good brought light to countless others, and even after the war, Corrie became a beacon of healing to the world.

This is the essence of Voskamp’s teaching: that joy is not found in abundance, but in attention. It is the soul’s power to behold the sacred in the ordinary, the eternal in the fleeting. The one who trains the heart to notice a bird’s song, a child’s laughter, or even the mercy of breath itself, becomes a vessel of Light. And light, once kindled, does not remain confined; it spreads, illuminating the hidden corners of despair and awakening hope in others.

The ancients, too, spoke of such truth. Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor, wrote in his Meditations that “the happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” The Stoics knew that to govern the self with thanksgiving is to rise above the storms of circumstance. Likewise, in sacred texts across cultures, the refrain is the same: “Give thanks in all things.” To choose gratitude is to wield a power greater than empires, for empires crumble, but light endures.

What then shall we learn? That every soul is offered a choice each day: to focus on what is broken, or to seek what is whole; to dwell on shadows, or to pursue the flame of beauty and truth. To walk in this way is not naivety, but strength. It is the discipline of seeing rightly. And those who persist in such sight become the quiet revolutionaries, the ones who shift the tide of families, communities, and even nations.

Practically, the path is simple yet profound. Begin by naming three things each day for which you are grateful. Speak them aloud, write them down, or whisper them in prayer. Train the heart to look not only at what is lacking, but at what is given. When hardship comes, pause and search for even the smallest mercy, as Corrie ten Boom did. Encourage others by speaking words of beauty and truth, rather than complaint or cynicism. In doing so, you join the company of the brave, who bear light into the darkness of the world.

Therefore, let this be the lesson to all who hear: The world does not change first by grand decrees or mighty rulers, but by souls who dare to see with thanksgiving, who dare to rejoice even here and now. Be such a soul. Fix your eyes on what is good, what is beautiful, and what is true—and in so doing, you will not only transform your own life, but bring forth the fullest Light for all people.