The Way of the Warrior: An Ancient Path to Inner Peace

by Erwin Raphael McManus

When you are a novice, you cut away at the tree, never taking the time to pull back and sharpen the ax’s edge. Frankly, when you are inexperienced, you don’t even notice that the edge has become dull. You do notice that the tree becomes denser and every inch of progress becomes harder and harder. If you’re not paying attention, you’ll simply think that you’re losing strength or that in some strange way the tree is gaining strength. It takes a more seasoned lumberjack to make you aware that you are increasing your effort but decreasing your result. The fool just keeps striking and striking without paying attention to the quality of the edge. The wise know that if the edge is unsharpened, more strength is needed. The warrior understands that behind one strike of their sword are ten thousand hours in which they have wielded their sword without an enemy present. It is no different in life, that we are not pulling back bows or swinging swords or carrying the weapons of conventional battle. Every life is a series of battles, of conflicts, and of wars, and of course the war we speak of is the one that rages within. You cannot win the battle for your soul if you choose to live the life of a fool, neglecting the health of your soul and not taking time to refine who you are. The battle may look different for each of us, but the battle line is the same: it is at the intersection of our passions and desires. Solomon tells us to love wisdom. He knows that in the end we become what we l...