There will always be excuses, arguments, and questions of timing

Hear the words of the leader, Lara Giddings, who spoke with the clarity of one who has walked in the realm of power and decision: “There will always be excuses, arguments, and questions of timing when moving on difficult and controversial issues.” These words are carved from the stone of human history, for they describe not merely the struggles of governments, but the very nature of the human spirit when confronted with change. For whenever the path is steep and the issue is heavy with consequence, the tongue finds reasons to wait, to delay, to retreat. Yet progress demands that someone rise above these excuses and act.

The meaning is this: there is never a perfect time to confront what is difficult and controversial. If one waits for the winds to be calm, the seas to be smooth, and the hearts of all men to be ready, one will wait forever. Excuses will arise like weeds in the field—arguments will grow like thorns—and the question of timing will forever haunt those who seek comfort instead of courage. The wise know this truth: that the best time to do what is right is rarely convenient, and that the greatest deeds are born not of perfect conditions, but of steadfast resolve.

The ancients bore witness to this truth. Consider Moses, who led his people out of bondage. There were many excuses offered: the people doubted, Pharaoh raged, and even Moses himself questioned his strength. Had he waited for the perfect moment, his people would have remained slaves. Instead, he acted, despite the dangers, and his people crossed into freedom. Thus, Giddings’ words echo across the ages: if one delays until excuses vanish, nothing will ever be done.

History too offers the tale of Abraham Lincoln. In the midst of civil war, he was urged by many to delay the Emancipation Proclamation, for the timing seemed ill-suited, the nation divided, the outcome uncertain. Advisors counseled caution, warning of controversy and rebellion. Yet Lincoln knew there would never be a time without arguments, doubts, and excuses. He acted, and by acting, he redefined the course of a nation. His example is the embodiment of Giddings’ wisdom: that decisive action, even in the storm, is the mark of true leadership.

There is a deeper meaning still. Giddings’ words are not only for rulers and nations, but for every soul. In each life, there are decisions we postpone, truths we avoid, changes we fear. We tell ourselves the timing is not right, that the burden is too heavy, that we must wait for clearer skies. But life itself is fleeting, and to delay endlessly is to betray our own growth. Excuses and arguments will always stand ready, but the courageous spirit moves despite them.

The lesson is luminous: do not wait for perfect conditions to do what is hard but necessary. Whether in leadership, in love, in justice, or in personal growth, recognize that hesitation is a shadow that never fades. Courage is not the absence of doubt, but the will to act in its presence. To act amid controversy is to shape destiny; to wait for comfort is to surrender it.

Practical action must follow. When faced with a difficult choice, ask yourself: Am I waiting because it is truly wise, or because I am afraid? Examine your excuses, and strip them of their disguises. Seek counsel, but do not be paralyzed by endless debate. Choose a course that aligns with principle, and take the step. For in action, momentum is born, and in momentum, hope.

For remember this eternal truth: excuses and arguments are endless, but opportunities are not. As Lara Giddings teaches, the one who waits for perfect timing will never act, but the one who acts despite controversy becomes the architect of change. Let us then be bold, not only in our dreams but in our deeds, for it is through courage in the face of excuses that history is made and futures are forged.