We are shepherds; we exult in our toughness.
Not that we idolize the little engine that could, but we each seek to be the little engine that would. It is not the toughness of “we can do it” but of “we are obedient to the call” and consequences be damned.
There is no elitist pride here. We are tough because someone has to be tough and God has chosen us. He has chosen us to lead in one thing or another, and we are grateful to Him regardless. We are tough because we love to serve Him. We enjoy being tough, not because we hold toughness up as a virtue, nor do we offer spite to those who are not so tough. We exult in being tough because it means we have a purpose among those who are not called to be tough.
In the balance of things, we have a calling and it’s a privilege to serve.
