Enticing to the coward is the crowd:
It speaks what each dares not to speak alone,
And compensates for fear with voices loud
To offer wisdom that it doesn’t own.
With stridency, a courage is displayed
Which hadn’t been in evidence before;
The shame of individuals afraid
For just a time the crowd lets each ignore.
And out of nowhere vindication comes
To lost souls as their petty dreams come true;
Amidst the power shift and beating drums
They’re now the ones to give to each his due.
The crowd will not disperse until its spell
Brings many men to suffer, more to hell.
—Joseph Mirra
You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
