In His Own Words: A Lesson in Courage
The most important lesson about courage I’ve learned didn’t come from a success; it came from a moment when I fell short. Years ago, a phone call with my mentor challenged me to do something that felt nearly impossible: reach out with love to someone I had only seen as an adversary, a problem to fix. At the time, I was unable to respond with the courage he called me to, yet his example continues to guide me. After his father was murdered along with six other worshippers in the 2012 Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting, Pardeep Singh Kaleka rejected calls for revenge. Instead, he chose the harder path, extending love to the very communities where the violence had taken root. That powerful act of courage has been a model for my own journey, shaping how I approach difficult conversations and challenging work today, and reminding me that when I fall short, I am human and must keep trying.
Years later in 2017, when I was asked to help the community of Kalkaska, Michigan respond after their Village President publicly called for violence against Muslims, supporters of Black Lives Matter, and transgender people, I turned to Pardeep for guidance. Our plan was to help residents reclaim the narrative of their town by creating opportunities to meet and learn from those they saw as “other,” beginning with a town hall focused on religious understanding.
The effort faced intense resistance. Supporters of the Village President, including members of the Michigan militia and some influential voices in law enforcement and clergy, worked to prevent the meeting from happening. As threats of harm circulated, I felt hesitant about going, about continuing to show up, continuing to listen.
However, true courage demanded more than simply standing in the room.
On the day I was driving north for the town hall meeting, I called Pardeep for final advice. He asked a simple question: had I spoken with the mayor? In truth, I had not tried very hard. I didn’t really want to talk with him. I saw him only as a problem to solve.
Pardeep raised his voice and told me to call him. As I hesitated, his request became a command: call him and tell him he is loved.
At the time, I didn’t have the faith or courage to do that. But that moment has stayed with me. It reminds me that the deeper courage we are called to practice is not simply standing against what is wrong, it is reaching out with humanity and love, even when it is hardest. And that taking that step, even in small ways, has the power to transform hearts, create understanding, and build lasting connections that extend far beyond the moment itself.
That moment has stayed with me, shaping both my thoughts and my actions. It reminds me that courage is not always loud or dramatic, it can be as simple as seeing the humanity in others, recognizing the value in each person, and being willing to learn from those who are different from us. That quiet courage continues to shape how I engage with the world and the impact I hope to leave.
-Steve Spreitzer
