Letter and Spirit A beauracrat used his pen to sign a law allowing cameras on top of traffic lights in MD. Now if you don't make the yellow(which I understand they have shortened the time), you get a nice fine in the mail. The Sword represents the spirit, and the pen the letter. The spirit AND the letter are important(in our present stage of growth), however Paul said, "The letter killeth and the spirit giveth life." So in this senerio, the pen killeth, and the sword giveth life. (Glad I didn't use a pen to write this!)?