Mr. Wallace Smith: Lessons From a Sword

Author: David Markopoulos | Living Education

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These posts summarize the forums that our Living Education-Charlotte students attend each week.

In a recent forum message, Mr. Wallace Smith presented the Living Education-Charlotte students with an intriguing item from his collection—a genuine samurai sword. His message, dwelling on this sword, focused on many insightful meditations and lessons we can learn from a sword.

Mr. Smith compared the craftsmanship of a real, steel-forged sword to a lightsaber from Star Wars. While lightsabers represent a fantasy idea of a super-powered sword, the reality is impossible to replicate with our technology. A well-crafted sword is full of intricacy and intentional design.

Heart Steel

Mr. Smith spent time explaining the forging process of the sword, displaying it as he talked. In Japan, iron is less common, which is why swordmakers historically would combine it with carbon. The blade would undergo an intricate process wherein the metal would be combined in two components—softer steel comprises the core, or tang, of the sword, while the harder steel forms the outer blade. 

This accomplishes a very important function. The strength and integrity of the blade is greatly increased because the “heart steel” can absorb shock far better than one solid piece of rigid steel. As the steel is purified, the swordmaker works with it, and finally plunges it in ice-cold water. This final step after weeks or months of work will either strengthen the sword or cause it to shatter.

Lessons From a Sword

What lessons can we learn from this process? Much like a sword blade, God works with us in a refinement process to produce a beautiful instrument that is usable in His hands. Much like a sword blade, there are many unique elements that comprise the larger creation. While we may face trials that feel like they can break us, we have to remember that God is forging us into something unique that He can use as an effective tool for His purpose.

David Markopoulos is a Living Education alumnus from the 2023-2025 school years. Originally hailing from Chicago, he currently works for the Living Education program.