Fortitude

Abraham: Fortitude has fallen into disfavor as a word in the English language, but its lack of usage does not imply that its virtue is outmoded. Fortitude is the ability to persist in the face of challenge, the strength to follow one's convictions of truth, beauty, and goodness. Fortitude is what makes a foundation solid. It is the mortar that holds together the decisions of will as these are made with the guidance of your Mystery Monitor, your Indwelling Spirit. Fortitude is born of adversity. It is born of a sense of duty. It is born of loyalty. Fortitude is long lasting courage, not merely the enthusiasm of aroused emotions; but is the cement which solidifies the structure of character. Fortitude is a first cousin to patience and, in fact, the one cannot exist without the other.  

Fortitude makes possible the completion of all worthy projects. It is an absolutely essential character trait. Fortitude is what carries the soldier through the dangers and even the horrors of battle. Fortitude is what keeps marriages together when sometimes the cords of love are frayed. Many people in this culture of the U.S.A. have had too soft a life where they have not been required to learn fortitude.  When the going gets
difficult many have abandoned their goals, because they have not learned the lessons of patience and fortitude.

This tragedy (referring to the 9/11 incident) may have many positive outcomes, among them a reappraisal of this nation's character and a questioning of its "hell bent for materialism" lifestyle. The worship of
materialism is in opposition to spiritual fortitude, for basically it teaches that comfort comes from having one's needs met immediately, nay more than one's needs, one's merest desires, satisfied now. To persist and build for a project that could conceivably last beyond one's lifetime is ludicrous to the dedicated materialist. So, perhaps, with the very symbols of materialism being attacked by the terrorists, the shrines of wealth and power falling, despite the tragedy of the loss of human life and faith, nevertheless, some may look upon this as a modern day Tower of Babel.

Please understand that I am not justifying the horrors of this faceless hatred which struck thousands of innocent people. What I am trying to suggest is that lessons can be learned that transcend the simple reflexive revengeful hatred response. We have talked of this before, and we will talk of it again, as this was no small event. This has been a planetary crisis.

I would suggest to you that the real struggle on this planet is between Jesusonian values and materialistic values. The bullies are not easy to identify. The good guys and the bad guys are not clearly demarcated. All
people, with the exception of those without normal minds, are indwelt by the Ultimate Good. Yet everyone can make mistakes and choose to make mistakes a pattern. We can see sin and iniquity evolve. We are hopeful that enough will be spoken by those like yourselves, to challenge the standard "us and them" ways of construing reality so that a profound spiritual upgrade will occur as a result of this great tragedy. Recall
that Jesus did not come to this planet to inaugurate social change. But the one thing he could not tolerate was inequality as it was expressed between gender, class, and economic distribution. One cannot serve both God and materialism.

These are the ripest moments, the greatest of times for potential change for the better.  I call upon you to
increase your fortitude, your strength that will endure, so that you may be part of the spiritual summertime which is to come on this planet.  
 
My final word has to do with the source of this fortitude. When one is thirsty, one seeks water from a well, let us say. One has to lower the bucket, fill it with water, and then reel it back up so they may then drink and quench their thirst. You have within you a well of living water. All you have to do is lower the bucket and reel it back up. That water will then give you the strength of fortitude.  

We always tell you that you need to stay in stillness practice, because stillness practice is your lifeline. If you do not drink water when you are thirsty, you will grow faint and you will be unable to stand against the adversaries, spirit poisons. Once you are charged with the strength of fortitude you will be able to stand before your brothers and sisters who have less information and less faith and strengthen them and lead them from darkness into light. Take a deep breath. Breathe in the Spirit, breathe out fear. Let go of weakness and take upon yourselves divine fortitude.