How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith

How We Learn to Be Brave is a guide to navigating key life junctures that, approached with faith and discernment, help develop courage. Written by Mariann Edgar Budde, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C., the book now includes a new Preface and her 2025 Inauguration prayer service sermon. On January 21, 2025, Bishop Budde gained public attention when, during Donald J. Trump's second inauguration prayer service, she addressed the president directly, asking him "to have mercy on the people in our country who are scared now," including members of the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, and refugees. Budde teaches that bravery is not a single act but an ongoing journey. She explores five types of decisive moments: the decision to go (visible and dramatic), the decision to stay (internal and personal), the decision to start (choices with future focus), the decision to accept (choices born of suffering), and the decision to step up to the plate (unexpected moments). Drawing on examples from Harry Potter, the Gospel According to Luke, personal experiences, scripture, history, and pop culture, she demonstrates how these moments are both universal and deeply individual. The book offers readers guidance for living according to their true beliefs and best selves during uncertain times.