Lessons I learned from a big stick

Those of you who are older may remember the Loony Toons cartoon in which Daffy Duck plays the part of Robin Hood. Ah, yes, Daffy and his trusty quarter staff (actually buck-and-a-quarter staff, but that's just between us); 'aha!, guard, turn, perry, dodge, spin, Ha!, thrust.....' BOING! That cartoon still makes me laugh.
This was the first weapon we studied, only in Korean it is known as the Jang Bong. Bong is Korean for 'stick'. Jang Bong simply means, 'big stick'.
Learning to fight with a 6 foot long stick can't be that hard, right? Wrong. The first class moved fast with lots of unfamiliar moves, terms and techniques. Holy cow! This was harder than it looked like it would be! I dropped my staff-in front of everyone-twice. Ack!
It didn't take long to realize I was the oldest student in the class and not only was I the oldest, but the only student who did not have a belt in Tang So Do and, more intimidating still, all the other students were brown and black belts. Eeek! Gulp! Rabbit, you are in way over your head here. I nearly quit after that first class and probably would have had it not been for the master instructor telling me the next day that I had done very well in that first class considering I had no martial arts experience. Okay; so maybe I didn't totally embarass myself? Maybe I can do this after all?

Lesson #1: Learning to fight and defend takes effort, instruction, practice and encouragement from the right sources. Nobody is born knowing how to fight; it's a learned skill. In the process of learning, mistakes are made and we might even look silly and feel foolish.
Christians aren't 'born' knowing how to fight, either. Many aren't even aware that there is a battle going on and an enemy who seeks nothing less than their total destruction. Those that are aware often have no idea what to do or how to do it. Sword of the Spirit? Okay...what do I do with that?
Without training and practice, weapons feel foreign, awkward and clumsy in our hands and we're just as likely to hurt ourselves as someone else. But with training and practice, they become comfortable in our hands and effective.