Justice isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon.
Every day, we wake up to a world that feels a little more chaotic, a little more divided, and sometimes, a little more unjust. The headlines bombard us with stories of pain and suffering, of silenced voices, and trampled rights.
As a civil rights lawyer, I confront these harsh realities head-on. I know the fight is neither easy nor straightforward. Behind every case, every headline, there’s a story—a story of pain, loss, and a deep need for justice.
Justice is often slow and hard-won, but it is always worth the fight. It’s a journey filled with twists, turns, and sometimes overwhelming obstacles. But it’s also a journey filled with purpose, with an undeniable belief that together we can make a difference.
Yet, the path to justice is not linear. The arc of justice doesn’t bend on its own; it bends because people stand up, speak out, and refuse to accept the status quo. It can be fraught with challenges that test our resolve. There are moments when progress seems stalled, when the fight for justice feels overwhelming or even impossible.
In these moments resilience isn’t just a word—it’s our lifeline.
Resilience isn’t the glorified bounce-back you see in a sports movie, but rather a steady quiet strength that comes from within—a toughness earned from picking yourself up before when no one else was watching. It comes from doing right by others, not for credit but simply because it is right thing to do. Resilience includes the wisdom to recognize the importance of rest and reflection, and to know when to seek support from others. It’s a resolute determination to always care for yourself and others, to stay true to your core values, and to keep pushing forward.
“Let us not grow weary of doing good,
Galatians 6:9
for in due season we will reap,
if we do not give up.”
Resilience doesn’t thrive in isolation—it’s nurtured in community. We are stronger with a support system bound by shared values and a common purpose. And, thus, within resilience lies a deep sense of gratitude—gratitude for those relationships that help you dig deep, stay grounded, and sustain you through the long nights, the tough breaks, and the inevitable setbacks. As Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” No man is an island unto himself.
Your story—what has happened to you—has the power to impact not just your life, but to ripple out into the lives of others. You hold the power to make the world a safer, more caring place for all of us. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly.” Micah 6:8. It’s not easy, and it’s not always rewarding in the immediate sense, but it’s necessary.
Every case we pursue, every step we take together, no matter how small, brings us closer to the world we strive to create. Adversity, while daunting, also makes room for opportunity. Who we are is defined by the decisions we make during the toughest times. Indeed, it is those decisions that so often determine the final outcome.
In moments of doubt, when the weight of the journey feels heavy, we must remember why we chose this path. We didn’t embark on this journey to take the easy road. I didn’t commit to this profession to sit on the sidelines and watch as others suffer. We are here because we believe—deeply—in the justice of our cause. We believe in the transformative power of the law to change lives, to right wrongs, and to bring about real, lasting change.
So, however this message has found its way to you, let it be your nudge to continue the marathon. The journey may be long, but the destination is worth every step.
