The Cross & The Blade

Years ago, while living in a small village—I had been there, along with others of various countries involved with setting up a safe-water system and a school for these people—I met two young men who presented me with a book.  I took the liberty of readying this book cover-to-cover.  No, I do not remember the title or authorship of the book.  Anyway, in my reading of this book, I recall a certain story that touched me very deeply.  A part of my philosophy about war and fighting has always, since then, been a part of my way of thinking.

The story told of a group of people who had been raised in the idea of war and warfare—war had always been a part of their lives—for them, it was a way of living.

One day, some people visited them with a miraculous story of a life of peace.  These warlike people chose to conform to a complete life of peace.

Note: I do not recall word-for-word this story, so I must add what I can to make it readable—so, please, don’t quote me on the telling of this story as being the original content.

Anyway, as these people began living a life of peace, this way of living was threatened by neighboring “bands” or tribes who were living a warlike type of life.

So committed were these now peace loving people, that even when attacked, they did not resist.  Instead, they laid themselves prostrate on the ground—exposing their unprotected bodies to their enemy.

At first, their enemy took advantage of this “easy kill”—this easy victory.  But in time, some of those who were killing these people found themselves so overcome by the spirit of peace demonstrated by these people that they began to feel extremely guilty, and gave up the slaying of these people.

Those who then refused to slay these people where soon attacked by their own tribe or countrymen. Their leaders commanded them to either fight or to die by the same sword.  However, these “brave” men refused to pick up the sword again—but instead, laid themselves prostrate upon the ground alongside the bodies of those who they had just slain.

The jest of this story tells me that, “No, we don’t have to fight—fighting and killing are always personal options.”