Conflict

Irvine wrote:You said that I’m tired of the fight, that I’m running away from it. You talk about forcing people to confront things, not to run away from them. So force me. Fight me.

I don’t think it’s a good idea.

Why is that?

Honestly?

Yes.

Because I don’t want to lose.

There is little point in fighting if you only do it to win.

You’re making no sense. I don’t see why anybody would fight if they’re not fighting to win.

That’s why I came here. That is why I seem so still. I am trying to learn how to want to lose.

Several months ago I turned to my long-sword instructor and said, “Can we spar?”

He was dubious about it, because the difference in our ability is not small.

“I want to know what the difference between you and me is,” I told him.

So we fought, and I learned.

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I am fiercely competitive. I play to win. Especially when I want to lose.

It is important to ask why the Master is the Master.

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Why conflict?

Because talking is easy.

I can stand in front of a class and tell them everything they should know about the long-sword. If I am online I can copy it straight from the book.

My words can tell you I am a Master of anything.

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In times of peace, we have the luxury to show our best faces. We can take our time, polish our words.

We can lie.

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Whatever your enemy is, you must ask it the same question as the Master.

An enemy you can defeat too easily is not an enemy; just an annoyance.

So you must ask it: “What is the difference between you and me?”

That difference is the space that must be overcome.

If it is crossed with a short hop, it was an annoyance.

If it’s a real enemy, you will know.

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Am I saying the Master is an enemy?

Perhaps.

Or perhaps the enemy is the part of you calling him “Master.”

That’s why you have to ask.