Of Broken Fighters

“Let me tell you a little story that will help all of this make sense, Alex.”

“Okay… I am not sure any story would be able to help me make sense out of the events of the past several days.”

“I did not say that. I just want to help you see that what you are in the middle of is part of a bigger picture than you are able to see right now.”

“Okay, then, AO, try me. Tell me this little story.”

“Have a seat, it will take a little while to tell it.”

The two sat, and AO began to weave a tale.

“There were several tools owned by a certain man.” AO began. “A sword. A sledgehammer. A finishing hammer. They attempted to unite to build. They really tried to accept the other tools, but some of them were just too far “out there”. There was simply no way some of the tools they encountered could possibly be useful in the work.

“The sword fought the enemies that attempted to detract from the work. This made sense because there were a lot of enemies to be fought and a lot of land to be cleared and a lot of mistakes to be corrected. The sword was in his glory. He finally had found his calling.

“The sledgehammer was devoted to destroying the existing dead structure and found in the finishing hammer a willing and ready ally in the demolition. The sledgehammer rejoiced that there was actually a purpose in his handle being broken. He discovered he could be useful in a lot more ways than he imagined. He began to learn what the Man intended to build and it made his heart rejoice to know he was clearing away the rubbish and ruin of who knew how many years.

“Then the finishing hammer felt the urge to begin building.

“The sword still focused on fighting the enemy.

“And the sledgehammer knew the sword could chop it to pieces…

“And the finishing hammer knew it was at the mercy of both.

“And all three more or less ignored the other tools that were on the building site, or else criticized them or congratulated themselves that they were “more in line” than the other tools.

“Confusion began to be noticed. The purposes of any of the tools began to be called into question. And the defense of the building site ceased. The needed demolition ceased. And the Architect was grieved.

“In the course of time the sword began to fight the very ones it was intended to defend. It lost sight of who the enemy actually was. For the most part the sword had perfectly pure motives. It was after all a sword.

“He was sure that he knew how to build the house, or kingdom, or castle, or just whatever it was.

“The sledgehammer could not understand how the finishing hammer could dare to become turncoat and suddenly get interested in building. There was SO much to destroy and get out of the way.

“And the finishing hammer…slunk away in despair. All had Architect inspired visions, but none of them sought His hand. And the enemy rejoiced. The sword no longer fought its real foe…it attacked its allies! The sledgehammer rose up in pride against any who dared oppose its vision.

“And the Architect was grieved, for He knew His plans for each.

“But He knew… He knew the sword had to come to the end of its pride. The sledgehammer had to be broken. The finishing hammer needed refining.

“But how many times does a person need to be broken? How often must a tool be broken? Is there an answer? Does anyone really know the answer, and if there is one, does anyone really want to know what it is?

“The progress of the building was brought to a standstill. Nothing was clear to anyone. No one knew what anyone was supposed to be doing. Chaos reigned.

“So…they came to the Architect. They came to the Architect, not in a group but separately.

“The Architect spoke thus to the sword: you are a mighty tool…in my hand. But…not all who you meet are your enemies. In fact none of your fellow tools are your enemies. No person is your enemy. Your only enemies are…My enemies. The only ones you may fight are the ones I bid you to. Your warfare is not against flesh and blood. Your battle is against the spirits that rebel against me and drag men into bondage. You have not been called to fight people. You are called to fight lies and protect people from them.

“Has it occurred to you that you can do nothing by yourself, sword?

“The sword stared at the Architect.

“You have no power unless you are in someone’s hand. You have never had power unless you were in anyone’s hand. Think back to the times that you were the cause of confusion and senseless bloodshed. That was not you or your power. You were in someone else’s hands.

“Sometimes you were in My hands, sometimes you were in the hands of my allies and sometimes you were in the hands of my foes. But you were in someone’s hands.

“I allowed you to be broken. I repaired your blade. I did this because I know what I designed you to be. I know what I want to do with you. But you must realize that you can only be it and do it in my hand. The power of the death blows you love the feel of are actually the power of My arm.

“You would do well to realize this, for if you do not you will be broken again by hands that are not Mine.”

AO paused, allowing Alex to soak in what he had just heard.

“What did the Architect say to the other tools?”

“It is not really your business to know, at this point, Alex. I sometimes tell people’s stories to others, but usually I do not. “

“Why won’t you tell me?”

“It simply does not pertain to you, Alex. If it did, I would tell you.”

“Will I ever know the rest of the story, AO?”

“Eventually, Alex.”

“But, AO, what is the point of telling me this story and not telling me all of it?”

“It is a warning, Alex, and what might be correctly called a prophecy.”

“What does that mean?”

“It depicts, in a measure, what has happened and what might happen and what will happen.”

“What might happen?”

“Yes.”

“What could that possibly mean, AO?”

“It is an invitation to enter into what I am doing in a given situation.” AO paused, as if he sensed he was going too fast for Alex to keep up.

“There are things that will take place if you do nothing. And there are things that I want to do that will be prevented, at least in a measure, if you do. And…”

“And, what?”

“There are things that you should do that you will refuse to do, and there are also things you should not do that you would do, if you knew everything about other people’s stories.”

“Why can you, how do you know these things that I am not allowed… not able to know?”

“Because of who I am.”

“That is what you always say. But you never explain. Why don’t you ever explain?” Alex was becoming exasperated and it showed.

“I don’t need to explain. You do not need to understand something for it to be true. There are things that are true just because they are true. Like, for instance, who I am. Or who you are. Your opinion of yourself does not change a single thing that is true about you. It might hide the truth from yourself, and from others for a time. But what is true about you stays the truth.”

AO stood to his feet abruptly. “I think I have given you plenty to think about for a bit.”

When Alex turned around to reply, AO was gone.