In a private room void of consequence would you admit to your inabilities? On a field of battle, drowning in combat would everyone find out anyway? The fortitude to *stand* the line comes from within. The ability to *hold* the line is more complex.
I would never minimize the sacrifice of a fallen brother or sister in arms. Those who have paid the pinnacle consequence should be revered for their service, no doubt. However, to confuse heroism and tragedy is counterproductive to those warriors who develop in their wake.
When a warrior is created, a fire burns within them. The fire is a light of the guiding sort only. Warriors are not inherently super, nor heroic. Without cultivating, the warrior is simply a dog chasing a car with no damned idea what to do once it’s been captured.
A warrior must hone their craft, not just their sword. The sharpest of swords in the hands of a novice *might* kill, while the empty hands of the master *will* kill before the sword clears the sheath.
A warrior must remain physically, mentally, and spiritually fit for combat. There is no objective test comprehensive enough to examine the fitness of a warrior. The warrior’s fitness may never be tested in their lifetime. When it is tested the results are often futile, one way or the other.
A warrior for good must remain good. Operating unsullied by the toxicity in which they operate is a task. Whether spiritual, personal, familial or organizational a warrior will remain true to their guiding creed in the face of adversity.
It is a sobering contradiction how all at once warriors are incredibly resilient yet fragile as any other human. Choose this day which principle you will serve. Is it enough for you to stand the line... or will you prepare to hold it?
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