Manual of the Warrior of Light

He looks for an example and remembers that Jesus went through something similar in order to inhabit fully the human condition.

“Take away this cup from me,” said Jesus. He too lost heart and courage, but he did not stop.

The Warrior of the Light continues despite his lack of faith. He goes forward and, in the end, faith returns.

The Warrior knows that no man is an island.

He cannot fight alone; whatever his plan, he depends on other people. He needs to discuss his strategy, to ask for help, and, in moments of relaxation, to have someone with whom he can sit by the fire, someone he can regale with tales of battle.

But he does not allow people to confuse this camaraderie with insecurity. He is transparent in his actions and secretive in his plans.

A Warrior of the Light dances with his companions, but does not place the responsibility for his actions on anyone else.

In the intervals between battles, the Warrior rests.

Often he spends whole days doing nothing, because that is what his heart demands. But his intuition remains alert. He does not commit the capital sin of Sloth, because he knows where that can lead—to the warm monotony of Sunday afternoons when time simply passes.

The Warrior calls this “the peace of the cemetery.” He remembers a passage from Revelation: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot…. So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.”

A Warrior rests and laughs. But he is always alert.

The Warrior of the Light knows that everyone is afraid of everyone else.

This fear generally manifests itself in two ways: through aggression or through submission. They are two facets of the same problem.

That is why, whenever he finds himself before someone who fills him with fear, the Warrior reminds himself that the other person has the same insecurities as he has. He has surmounted similar obstacles and experienced the same problems.

But he knows how to deal with the situation better. Why? Because he uses fear as an engine, not as a brake.

The Warrior learns from his opponent and acts in a similar manner.

For the Warrior there is no such thing as an impossible love.

He is not intimidated by silence, indifference, or rejection. He knows that behind the mask of ice that people wear, there beats a heart of fire.

This is why the Warrior takes more risks than other people. He is constantly seeking the love of someone, even if that means often having to hear the word “no,” returning home defeated and feeling rejected in body and soul.

A Warrior never gives in to fear when he is searching for what he needs. Without love, he is nothing.

The Warrior of the Light recognizes the silence that precedes an important battle.

The silence says “Things have stopped. Why not forget about fighting and enjoy yourself a little.” At this point, inexperienced combatants lay down their arms and complain that they are bored.

The Warrior listens intently to that silence and understands that somewhere something is happening. He knows that devastating earthquakes arrive without warning. He has walked through forests at night and knows that it is precisely when the animals are silent that danger is near.

While the others talk, the Warrior trains himself in the use of the sword and keeps his eye on the horizon.

The Warrior of the Light is a believer.

Because he believes in miracles, miracles begin to happen. Because he is sure that his thoughts can change his life, his life begins to change. Because he is certain that he will find love, love appears.

Now and then, he is disappointed. Sometimes, he gets hurt.

Then he hears people say: “He’s so ingenuous!”

But the Warrior knows that it is worth it. For every defeat, he has two victories in his favor.

All believers know this.