There’s no such thing as a strong person.
Only a person with strengths, who is strong in some areas. We all know that we all have weaknesses. But we are also weak because we are strong, because our strengths can become components in our weaknesses.
The unwavering, morally solid soul can lack compassion and struggle to show mercy.
The zealous reformer becomes intolerant of others who don’t agree with their cause, or don’t sacrifice much for it. Their zeal distills into simmering anger and before long, they lose the ability to win others to their cause. Instead, they alienate.
The tender-hearted giver becomes a pushover for manipulation, a willing target for scammers.
The financially secure despise those who are lower on the ladder of affluence, dismissing them as lazy, flawed, or even unblessed.
The independent enterprising type might be slow to ask for help. Head down, shoulders square, they march resolutely into oblivion.
The big picture visionary is often useless on detail, because they find it boring. Vision is cast but flounders because strategy is not set.
And then, whatever our character, we might show strength today and crumble tomorrow, in a different testing; some collapse because lethal circumstances conspired together, with a knockout punch result.
The perception that we’re unilaterally strong is deceptive. People say that we’re strong and we believe them. Overly confident, blinded by their flattery, or deceived by our lack of self awareness, we stumble headlong.
Perhaps we are painfully aware of our weaknesses. But have we ever asked the question: how do my strengths contribute to my weaknesses? And perhaps the knowledge that there are no strong people, only people with strengths, will keep us more alert and awake.