Virtue #6 - Testing

In Warriors, Mireles starts off his comments on Testing by writing, "A Warrior tests himself everyday to hone his skills physically, mentally, and spiritually, in a disciplined ritual of rigorous training that defines who he is." (p.63)  This is also true for the Sheepdog and the Master Teacher.

Warriors are constantly honing their combat skills through drills, exercises, and personal workouts.  Their goal is to be the last man standing.  While the goals of the Sheepdog are different, they also hone their skills through drills, exercises, and personal workouts.  While the Warrior's personal workouts include physical conditioning and weapons training, the Sheepdog researches the latest in emergency preparedness/response methods.  The Master Teacher reads professional journals, attends conferences, and is constantly seeking to hone their teaching skills.

While Warriors, Sheepdogs and Master Teachers may test their skills against others, their true competition is with themselves.  It does not mean that they cannot work with others.  Often they are at their best when doing so, and in the case of the Sheepdog, their work cannot be done alone.  However, Mireles warns that if they do what they do in order to prove something to someone else, their work will have a negative effect.  A Warrior does what needs to be done, because it has to be done.  There is no room for self-serving in the work of protecting others.

Push yourself.  Always strive to be better than you are.  You are needed at your best.