« Those Darn Prepositions | Main | Four Things »
January 28, 2006
Do Not Resist
I have strange dreams. Vivid and detailed, most are etched into my memory when I wake in the mornings. Some I have found to be rich in significance, while others appear to be completely nonsensical. An example of the latter is a recent dream in which Michael Jackson appeared at our home in Omaha only to slash my tires.
An example of the former is a dream I had about a week ago that has been in the back of my mind ever since. I was sitting at a long, bench style table, much like we had at our school cafeterias. Around me were both friends and strangers. I was somehow aware that although my friends at this table were believers, the strangers were not.
Everyone at the table was sharing their CD collection with everyone else, and selections were playing in the background. One of the strangers asked to see my new David Crowder CD, Collision. I was happy to oblige, hoping that the underlying message of salvation would somehow reach him.
I left the table to get my travel case with more of my CDs. When I returned, I found the case to Collision laying abandoned, in two pieces. I turned to find the stranger intentionally breaking the CD itself, a mischevious look of evil delight on his face.
I was furious. I demanded that he reimburse me for the CD, and I even calculated the sales tax he owed me. Yes, still sound asleep. I've been working to hard on my budget. Anyway, I was relentless. I forced the guy to take out his wallet. He attempted to give me a couple of bucks and an expired credit card, but I saw the 20 he was hiding away. I told him that I had change for the 20, and practically reached in there and grabbed it myself.
That's where the dream ends.
This is why it bothers me:
You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
-Matthew 5:38-41
When I was in middle school, there was a girl who hated me. She was in my math class, and I graded her paper once. She hadn't finished her assignment, and she begged me to not count the unfinished ones wrong, but I followed the rules. From that point on, every time she passed me in the halls, she would shove me. I would stumble away. It made me feel like trash.
One night I couldn't take it anymore and told my family what was going on. They told me that I had to stick up for myself. Shove her back. I protested that if we got caught fighting, we would both be suspended, because the school rule was that it didn't matter who started the fight, both would be punished. My family didn't care.
The next day, our science class went outside to pick up litter. She shoved me behind the teacher's back. I shoved back. She shoved me harder. I shoved back harder. Cries of "girl fight" went up, and I was afraid the teacher would look back and send us both to the principle's office. But I stood my ground.
The fight ended. I refused to let her one up me, so it was either a tie, or I won. The teacher never looked back. The girl never shoved me again.
This was a turning point for me. I was done letting people walk all over me. I at least put up a fight, even if I loose in the end.
Was I a better person before?
Posted by Megan at January 28, 2006 02:49 PM
Comments
Wow, Megan...that's deep...I've missed your deep-thinking blogs! Good questions...I don't know if I have a good answer but I know your question was somewhat rhetorical...I guess it makes me think about what I would advise my child to do in the situation, though...
Posted by: Nancy at January 30, 2006 12:14 AM