Perseverance

by Stefn Thorsman
 

Perseverance. It is the inner force that drives us to complete a given task or a personal goal. It is the hidden, internal power that we reach for when the odds are against us and that, once seized, pushes us on to victory. Some use the term "steadfastness." It is the ability to look at an overwhelmingly difficult situation and vow to keep at it until it's resolved or completed. This particular virtue goes hand in hand with discipline. It's personal discipline that leads us to take on difficult goals in order to make ourselves better. But it's perseverance that propels us to victory.

These two virtues are also the most difficult to keep. I can honestly say that I've failed on more than one occasion to keep these particular virtues. I've set goals for myself that I didn't reach in the time allotted. But I'm not a quitter. I keep at those goals until I succeed. It may take me much longer than I originally planned but I don't give up. That would be quitting and admitting defeat and I don't swallow defeat very well. It has a bitter taste that I've grown to despise.

The virtue of perseverance is one that should set us, as modern Heathens, apart from the other spiritual paths. Perseverance means strengthening our will and our desire to succeed and win. It means facing our challenges with a smile and a "can do" attitude that can't allow the notion of defeat to ever take hold.

We're here today because our ancestors had the will and fortitude to keep fighting against all the obstacles that were thrown at them. In the sagas we read of warriors laughing as they rode out against almost certain defeat. But in the end they were victorious because they never gave up, never faltered.

During WWII the cities in England were being bombed nightly. London was being hit particularly hard and the world watched and wondered just how much more the British people could take before they gave up and surrendered. But Winston Churchill went on the radio and declared: "We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and the oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!" The British people persevered and won. They never gave up.

Another example of perseverance is from one of my favorite sagas, the story of Weyland the smith. He's taken prisoner, has his hamstrings severed, and is forced to work for his captors. But he didn't give up. He worked and plotted at his escape until the opportunity presented itself to take revenge on his captors and escape using the wings that he had crafted in secret.

If we, as modern day Heathens, expect to build Asatru Hofs, temples, and communities of our own, then we must continue to persevere. We must be strong and determined through the hardships that we'll face in the coming years. When we’re pushed back we must continue on until the religion of Asatru is just as common as the other recognized religions of today. But if we are to succeed we must be strong and determined. We must be diligent and focused in everything we do if we are to be successful in this struggle. I'll leave you with a quote from the Raven Kindred Ritual Book:

"To accomplish without striving is to do little, but to persevere and finally accomplish a hard fought goal brings great honor!"