STRENGTH

Here's a passage from the new novel I've begun to work on (it's also posted on the new blog, over at The Pilgrim's Staff website

What men most fear in themselves and despise in others is anything they perceive as weakness.  We hide these feelings deep inside, or disguise them with truculence and bravado. This is unfortunate because the consequences are dire, whether personally damaging or, potentially, globally calamitous.  The truth is that all of us have our frailties.  Without them we would not be human.  True strength lies in the acknowledgment of our vulnerability, not in its rejection or concealment.