Like A Sword

You wield your power like a sword

Brandished menacingly

To bend opposition to your will

Most effectively.

It might seem harmless now-

A blade used as a threat,

But coercion spills blood even without

A tangible edge to whet.

Have no doubt that consequence

Will track you as a hound.

To remind us all that weapons

Are best left on the ground.

So wield that sword if you will

But pay attention to your heart

For motives distinguish influence

From the war that rips apart.

Scarlett Elise

I started reading the Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien this past week, and in the beginning of the book there is a letter written by Tolkien to Milton Waldman from 1951. Waldman was a friend of Tolkien's and an editor at the Collins Publishing House at the time. Within this letter, Tolkien explains (in his lengthy Tolkien fashion) what The Silmarillion is about, but there was one thing he said that really struck me.

Tolkien defines the desire for power as the desire "for making the will more quickly effective," which gave me great pause. This definition does not have a necessarily negative connotation, but instead it's quite neutral - revealing the fact that the difference between a positive and a negative use of power lies in the heart and the motives of the one who holds such power. Unfortunately, as a human race we have witnessed far too many abuses of power and we have grown wary of those who hold great influence.

If one's will is to enact goodness and justice, making that will more quickly effective is a great thing! But, if one's will is to simply get what they want no matter the cost, making this happen as quickly and effectively as possible could be very dangerous.

We ALL have the capacity for evil, since we are all sinful human beings, and we all have power and influence of some kind. Whether that is influence over your children, your friends, your social media followers, your students, a club or Bible study you lead, your colleagues, etc. So, this poem is simply a reminder for us to consider the influence we have and to watch our hearts closely so we don't wield our influence to get what we want more quickly. Instead, let's use the influence we have to bring greater justice and love into the world! Let's be the hands and feet of Jesus, laying down our swords in favor of humble service.

Our words carry much weight, and we must remember that there is not a single person we look in the eye who isn't loved by the Lord and created wonderfully and intentionally by Him. So, let's choose to use our influence and our words to lift others up, serve others well, and bring forth justice, goodness, and mercy!

"Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause." Isaiah 1: 16-17

With love,

Scarlett