Courage Facing Adversity
The heart of Perseverance and Analysis is in Courage and Willpower, the indomitable spirit of the soldier of Christ. Within Resurrexit Spiritus’s expansive comprehension of human spiritual existence, Courage is our shield against the hatred, metal honed to withstand the many foul blades of lies and against the sins of Cowardice and Absolutism.
Courage: The Defiant Spirit
Structural Virtues Theory (SVT) designates Courage as the eleventh virtue; defiant spirit. Shield against despair and an unwavering resolve to withstand forces bent on our demise. This is the ultimate spiritually rebellious stance against the material, doubt’s insidious claims, complacency, and the libel against Trust in God’s plans as blindness, rather than the eye-opening it actually is. Our Paulus, ever the warrior of truth, explains “For all things I have strength, in Christ’s strengthening of me” (Philippians 4:13). A boast in nothing besides the Lord alone, and living affirmation of Courage’s bedrock, divine energy coursing through his soul, will aligned with eternity.
Logos domain recapitulates the self and other Loyalty virtue through these last two virtues of Courage and Willpower, where relationships and Eros dynamics intertwine, Courage and Willpower together transcend individual perseverance into the communal beyond the solipsistic. It becomes collective salvation of as many as possible, upholding both trust and truth above all other communal bonds, and thus strengthening them all; “winning,” in the words of Paulus. The soldier in Christ navigates human frailty, where pride masquerades as strength and fear cloaks itself as wisdom. Here, Courage shields against spiritual defeat, converting doubt’s shadow into the light of divine purpose’s clarity, through our very imperfections. Tomorrow, we will discuss Willpower in greater depth.
Willpower: Love’s Driving Force
Willpower, the twelfth virtue (Twelve), complements Courage. Described as “life driven by Love,” it is more than sentiment; it is an ontological truth acknowledging that our existence is shaped by divine affection binding us to eternal order. In Structural Virtues Theory, Willpower synthesizes discipline and devotion, elevating souls beyond temporal confines. It empowers us to “take up our cross” (Matthew 16:24) not as burden but invitation—to tread Christ’s path, embracing suffering as resurrection’s avenue.
Resurrexit Spiritus stresses that “Wisdom in opposites” is crucial for spiritual triumph. Courage and Willpower are not solitary virtues but balanced pillars countering despair and apathy extremes. Like a ship needing both sail and anchor to weather storms, the soul requires these virtues to endure life’s tempests. The soldier in Christ must masterfully wield them, lest they morph into self-destruction tools rather than salvation instruments.
The Serious Servant to All
Ponder Jesus’s allegorical admonishment of those who believe themselves free from duty and above their station, denying God’s presence (Matthew 24:45–51). This narrative alone is a soldier’s life blueprint, as servant to all, giving “other servants their food at the most appropriate time.” The soldier then is a serious servant to all, in Spirit, and this is what it means to fight.
Courage and Willpower are not used for conquest, tarnishing as soon as such a thing is even considered, but acts of submission, to the highest divine order. The battle is inward, allaying against forces leading us and our communities astray. Divine surrender grants power to rise repeatedly, stronger, wiser, and more attuned to our eternal purposes. Beloved soldier, let Courage be your shield and Willpower your sword in Truth. Within the soul’s heart rests spiritual victory’s key, with triumph over self, in fact a form of death, and resurrection through disciplined virtue-building.