"...and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks." (KJV Isaiah 2:4; RE Isaiah 1:5).
If our divisive, polarizing, threatening, and cutting swords can be beaten into plowshares that can break through hardened stalemates and hearts, turn matters over to reveal and gain understanding of different perspectives, and introduce fresh air and life into the issues we face, we may yet harvest the fruit we earnestly seek.
If our sharp-pointed and piercing spears of contention, criticism, accusation, gossip, back-biting, contempt, and spite can be beaten into pruninghooks of dialogue, engagement, and understanding, they can be employed to delicately shape, encourage, and stimulate growth and development in ourselves and others, and we may yet realize the latent fruit within which yearns to yield.
Swords and spears, plows and pruninghooks are all tools and means used to reach an end. Swords and spears do their work and reach their ends very quickly (in victory or defeat). Plows and pruninghooks, on the other hand, are a means to realize an end that is further off (a harvest) and play a part in a larger process of encouraging and managing growth - patience is required.
Our world trains us in the use of these weapons with skill. Giving them up is not easy. It means letting go of a means of defending ourselves. It means becoming more vulnerable. It means no longer getting the rush that comes with quickly or reflexively striking out or back, especially if we feel justified or vindicated. It means losing the self-satisfaction that comes when triumphing over an opponent. A pruninghook or a plow are not very effective in a fight and would look silly.
"Beating" implies more than repurposing. Because we would not use a sword to harvest grain, nor a spear to plow a field, these instruments must be re-shaped or re-forged to fulfill different purposes. This is a purposeful activity.
Of course, once re-shaped, pruninghooks and plows can be melted down and made into weapons of war again. That choice always exists.
