ManOnAJourney

I am a rather complex individual. Reading my posts will provide a start to understanding me. Beyond that, feel free to message me with questions. I will answer most of them.

More About Me
I am a Christian, with roots in Wesleyan theology. I grew up as a pastor's son in the tradition of the Church of the Nazarene. My family was Free Methodist until the summer of my birth. I generally avoid politics, but I would describe myself as a compassionate conservative. I become passionately involved in the causes in which I believe.

I completed a Masters in Christian Leadership from Fuller Seminary in 1999 and am taking doctoral classes now. I worked in Christian higher education for 19 years and am now a program officer for a Christian foundation. I hold the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation from The American College. As I have extra time, I enjoy geneaology and gardening.

The views expressed on this blog are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.


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The Virtue of Stick-to-itiveness

Stick-to-itiveness!  You have probably heard it before, and now the Merriam-Webster dictionary includes it with this definition:  “dogged perseverence: tenacity”.  When this virtue is displayed, it seems to me it looks a lot like fortitude.  Fortitude is defined by the same dictionary resource as “strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage”.  The word is Middle English, derived from Latin, and it came into usage in the 12th century. 

The likes of C.S. Lewis wrote about it.  Here is what he said, “Fortitude includes both kinds of courage—the kind that faces danger as well as the kind that ‘sticks it’ under pain.  ‘Guts’ is perhaps the nearest modern English.  You will notice, of course, that you cannot practice any of the other virtues very long without bringing this one into play”.

To be persons of virtue then, as most of us aspire to be, fortitude must be developed within us. Ask yourself: how will I do with fortitude, with stick-to-itiveness today?

Notes