Wax Armor

Wearing a full Medieval suit of armor every day may offer us protection from some harm, but it’s certainly not practical. Our mobility would be sacrificed, our sight would be limited, no one would be able to see us, and we would still be susceptible to emotional harm. It’s a great deal of effort for a false sense of security. Although we’d be concealed by this shell of armor, it’s really only protect us from a small variety of threats. Life is neither a joust nor a sword fight. But, it’s a battle nonetheless. The emotional susceptibility is our metaphoric Achilles’ heel. We are most vulnerable where no weapon can harm us. One cannot be stabbed in their sadness, loneliness, anxiousness, insecurity, shame, guilt, etc.

The goal is to be completely visible. To allow others to see us as we are. The protection we seek is found in the daily practice of doing right. Not worrying about being right – just doing right. Focusing on our choices, which when made with reason provide the best protection. The confidence of knowing we are unable to be harmed by what’s outside of our control, unless we choose to be.

Let us look to a freshly waxed car for a better metaphor for armor. We all know the feeling of driving away after going through the car wash. Car is clean and waxed, tires are shiny, RainX on the windshield. Confidence is boosted. We’re looking good! We’re  even secretly excited for the next time it rains. We want to see the rain bead-up and roll-off. That’s a life goal, isn’t it? Living with the knowledge we are protected by our reasoned choice to the point where daily obstacles simply bead-up and roll-off. Like wax, it’s an invisible top coat. Challenges still come at us – they will happen. The goal is not to learn to either avoid problems or invite harm, but to live without fear that what’s outside our control can penetrate to an emotional nerve. To get excited when we face challenges, because we know we will learn from our mistake and let the bothersome simply bead-up and roll-off.