We are often faced with things beyond our control: other people's unacceptable behavior, out-of-control children, and the weather. Now I'm not saying you have to be religious to do this, but faith in a higher power is a sure fire way to be less irritable and critical over these dark smudges on an otherwise decent existence.
There is a G-D. There is something, or someone, up there that knows you inside and out. He knows when you're hurt and you're angry. He knows when you've been done wrong. And He knows who's responsible.
Our high-conflict neighbors think that a smack in the mouth is the only solution for these problems. They're wrong. Our L-D and Master, while still quick to forgive, has much stronger weapons in His arsenal. We can't make someone lose their job, get dumped by their significant other, or contract a fatal disease - and let's be honest, we wouldn't really want to make any of that happen. But G-D can, and sometimes will, do all that and then some.
Don't get it twisted - I'm not saying anyone should pray for someone else's demise. G-D's not anyone's hitman.
What I am saying is that G-D sees everything they get away with. He doesn't put you to a burden of proof because He's already seen all the evidence. And more often than not, they don't "get away" with any of their misdeeds or malfeasance because their case files remain open for the pendency of their natural born lives.
And whether He executes His judgment sooner or later is not our concern. Point being, neither is our desire for vengeance.
One way to live an empty, unfulfilled, unsatisfying, unpleasant, and unpeaceful life is to hold grudges. To remain furious and hateful long after the offense has been committed. To forever resent someone for "getting away with it" instead of simply fixing whatever damage was caused.
I'm not letting them off the hook, don't worry - we all know that alpholes exist. But the responsibility for seeking a pound of flesh from each person who hurts us is not the responsibility we're meant to carry. We are not avenging angels out for justice like some movie hero. We are not knights commissioned to slay a dragon like some RPG character. And (yup, you knew I was going there) we don't live in a comic book.
We have goals to reach, levels to advance, and a duty to be true to ourselves. Burning with revenge and obsessing over others' misdeeds gets in the way of the important work we need to do. That's why it's kicked upstairs to He who always dispenses justice so we won't have to do so. Leave that business to Him.
Let's be real - for some of us, like our high-conflict neighbors, a peaceful life is way too boring. Good. As they sometimes tell parents of over-scheduled children, we all need to be a little bored now and then. That's how we get creative enough to build lives of substance and not of routine.
I EXIST. I MATTER. I BELONG. I DESERVE.
I AM BOLD. I AM BULLETPROOF. I AM BETA.
DISCLAIMER: The above does not endorse or reject any particular religion or set of beliefs. It just states that there is a G-D. Those of you who are atheist or agnostic are entitled to disagree, with and only with respect.
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