4. We all know that habits are strengthened and deepened through practice. So then, consider what habits of life will incline you more toward courage and endurance. Begin with endurance; it is the easier of the two to think of in terms of habit development. Write out one or two daily practices that would help develop a persistent spirit. A daily routine of serving a neighbor perhaps. Or a regular act that is generally unknown and unappreciated by people at large. Next, consider courage. Try to find an action that helps you to stand up to some daily fear. Or consider standing for a matter of justice in your workplace which will not automatically make you look good. Things like these will help develop patterns of life that will incline us toward fortitude.

5. Fortitude is not a highly sought after virtue in our day. It is seldom something that will get someone on the evening news. Few today even think about fortitude, not to mention earnestly seek after it. Why is this the case today? Give some energy working on that question. Are there

cultural forces which make fortitude less desirable now than in other eras? Are there ways the churches have become a part of the problem? Am I part of the problem?

6. The presence of fortitude (in the double sense of courage and endurance) is essential for the good of any society. Where do you see today’s world leaders exhibiting courage? Where do they exhibit a lack of courage? Is fortitude a political asset or a liability? With regard to endurance how would you assess a past world leader who continues to exhibit leadership influence, like Jimmy Carter?

7. Fortitude is one of four classic cardinal virtues, the other three being justice, temperance, and prudence. Which of these four is the less familiar to you? Which might be the one you need to work on the most? What plan can you put in place that will substantially increase both your knowledge and experience of these virtues by this time next year?
—Richard J. Foster

THE HEALING OF HUMAN HURTS

Freed From Bad Dreams
My late husband was a very loving man but had some “flaws” which got him into serious trouble numerous times and caused hardship and pain for our family. After his death in 1994, I began to have dreams of him doing those same kinds of things–things that never actually happened–but I would wake up feeling disturbed and depressed. This happened many, many times.

On the Sunday morning after the RENOVARÉ Conference at my home church in January 2000, Richard Foster laid his hand on my head and prayed for me. I didn’t know exactly why I was at the altar, but I knew it was for me. Some weeks later I realized that I was no longer having those awful dreams. More than a year has passed during which I have had only two dreams. It has made a wonderful difference in my life.
—Oklahoma City, Oklahoma