Fortitude

 I've been thinking about fortitude a lot. Some days, I question how to get through the hard parts or how I did it before in months or years past. I recall how I was able to cultivate and make things my own, and actually make the hard parts more bearable, even enjoyable. There's a sense of responsibility but also accomplishment when you can dig deep- like a well searching for and scraping for water- and make the experience rewarding, memorable and even inspiring.

I've been thinking about that recently- how to make my experience currently enjoyable, inspiring and even rewarding. I feel that I am so hard on myself, and idealistic that I forget all the good things, how I've adjusted and adapted and landed something and learning a lot all at once. It isn't at all easy, but it's also easy to forget what I have been doing well. 

So, when I gave a talk to the confirmation students the other night about Fortitude, it resonated with me again. I also talked about St. Bernadette and how she models this virtue well. I can't help but see the deep connections- I did a Marian consecration that ended on the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes a few years ago. St. Bernadette saw this apparition of Our Lady. The parish where I prayed out front once the consecration ended has a grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes with St. Bernadette, and this is the same parish where I am a catechist. God doesn't overlook the details. 

But fortitude is so important and essential in our lives and spiritual lives. I see the fruits of it from past years and experiences but feel I always need to cultivate and renew it again as we are always growing, and the seasons of our lives change. 

I love the symbolism of this virtue- also known as courage or endurance, as I think of running or a runner who's not stopping and sees the end goal and wants to finish the race. 

I've had this in my own ways many times with my program- usually tired, burnt out, and even discouraged and doubtful of where it will all lead. Or just waking up and starting the day, but instead just wanting to sleep in and get a late start instead. 

There are so many ways and scenarios of fortitude/endurance/courage that present themselves. Giving this talk makes me more aware of it in my own life, circumstances and cheering myself on with God's grace and help instead of focused on the pitfalls or discouraging parts that the evil one only wants me to see.