Daydreaming About Swords
I daydream a lot.
One recurrent daydream is about is what it would like be if there were still a warrior class in our culture. A class that was charged with the duty of protecting the society, enforcing justice, guarding, defending, etc. It is a class that existed for thousands of years in nearly every society, but with the advent of firearms and modern warfare, has pretty much disappeared. This class was generally set apart from the rest of society by the fact that they wore swords. A very visible sign of their station, charge, purpose, authority and responsibility.
Part of me believes that some men (and possibly women) are born warriors. They have it in their blood the same way someone is born and artist, musician, poet, engineer, politician, etc. There is, however, no way for a born warrior to express their birthright, except maybe in sports, possibly in the military and law enforcement.
What would it be like, in our society, if there were still a warrior class, that still wore swords?
If you didn’t already know, I think that deep down I was meant to be a warrior. I was thinking how odd it would be if I were allowed to/expected to/charged with wearing, and when necessary, weilding a sword. It’s especially odd to think of this in the context of sitting in a meeting about a Web application you are developing, wearing a sword, expected to pull it out and use it if necessary.
It also occurs to me how infrequently it is necessary to use a sword in our culture. Even if people wore them, it would be very rare to need it. (Unless you want to argue that the presence of weaponry increases violence.)
Would my skill with the blade fade over time through disuse? It would if I didn’t train. Would my proficiency in battle fade over time? It would if I did not regularly go to battle. Warriors become fat, lazy, and undisciplined in times of peace if they are not constanly preparing themselves, drilling, training, studying. If swords are not properly maintained, they will rust, dull, and stick inside the scabbard, making it very difficult to draw when it is actually needed, losing the edge of speed you need in combat.
The fact is, if you are a Christian, you are a warrior, you are in a battle, you have a sword, and you need to use it. If you do not, it will rust and dull and stick inside the scabbard and you will lose in battle. You need to train, drill, study, and go to battle regularly. You need to fight instead of flee, engage instead of retreat; or you will become fat, lazy, and undisciplined.
I am currently feeling fat, lazy, and undisciplined, but have recently been awoken to that fact. I intend to do something about.
Of course I speak in metaphors that point to a spiritual truth, but the spiritual realm is just as real and active and integral to our lives as the physical one.
Jumping back to when it was actual swords you were talking about… would you carry a broadsword? a longsword & shortsword combo? katana & wakizashi combo? or how about a zweihander :)
Strike away, Matt! Strike them so that they’ll die for Christ :)
Steve - Definitely a Daisho (Katana and Wakazashi).
Though I think it is important to mention that it isn’t people that we strike with swords (spiritual or otherwise) but evil, the devil and anything that’s working for him… that doesn’t include people.
Just thought I’d bring it up because there are people who aren’t Christian who read this blog who might get the wrong idea about what I’m trying to communicate here…
OK, you know what I’ve been thinking about, is the phalanx, which is how the ancients fought, especially the Greeks, like the Philistines.
I think Paul’s whole thing about putting on the armor of God is in the context of relationships.
And if you see it in that light, he’s basically talking about the phalanx or the Roman cohort. It’s a moving mass of interlocking lives with shields and swords and spears and men grinding it out together to bascially intimidate and overcome the opposition.
Awww sweet. I love that image.
You know, though… the “Spear of the Spirit” isn’t mentioned anywhere… so maybe just the impenetrable shield wall? :)
Also the “Sword” mentioned in that passage is a specific kind of sword: a short, defensive sword, used when the shield wall is broken. Don’t know if that is important or not in context of that passage, just an interesting piece of trivia…