Vengeance is Not Mine

I am preempting the topic I planned to write on today because vengeance kept cropping up and seemed to be a much more pressing matter for me to do the thinky/writy thing on. Granted this is just a blog that 5 official people read, but it's really more about me processing through topics in my life. As a reminder: None of this is about you - this is about life experiences.

Vengeance is the act of a type of vigilante justice, bringing wrong onto someone who has wronged you. I guess justice is a bit of a misnomer here. Justice would be like saying we should be judging others (which we shouldn't). It is also saying that we have the right to say what someone else deserves (which we don't). That is some pretty dangerous territory and heavy responsibility. I certainly am not bloated enough in my ego to operate under the assumption that I am above anyone else and own the ability to say what should or should not happen to them.

No one likes to suffer, but it is something that we all do in our lives. Suffering is part of the life process and cycle.When we are hurt, we feel like we should not have to suffer alone. The person that did this to me is going to pay! Really?! Really?! Maybe adjust your mindset there a little.Think about what you need to learn from the experience instead of focusing solely on the hurt. Isn't triumph of adversity the best response to hurt or harm? What better way to say 'you can't hurt me, I don't give you that power'.

That's what vengeance is truly about - power. Thinking you have the power enact some form of wrong over someone else because of wrong they have done to you. You have given that other person or people the power over your actions. Letting someone else dictate your demise through reducing yourself in bitterness is unfair to yourself. Rise up and bring yourself to a point where you are truly in power of yourself instead of letting someone get to you.

When we desire to be vengeful we put ourselves in a position of doing wrong. It's true, two wrongs don's make a right. That is a proverb that I stand by. Hurt begat hurt - that means you are doing nothing more than contributing the cycle of hurt, harm and violence. We are above that, right? Stop the hurt and begin the heal. Try wishing some clarity and a better position for those that hurt you. If they are better, they will no longer seek to hurt you or anyone else.

Until next time...give a little love, give a little understanding - it goes a long way.