Revenge is a dish best served cold. This what I heard anyway. Yet the better response might be to step back from a desire to gain revenge and simply…move on!
If you have lived more than a few years you have been hurt. You have been rejected. You have been misunderstood. You have had others turn their back on you. It has been in these moments that our human nature would like to take revenge. We want our say. We want our position known. We want our pound of flesh.
There is a quick story found in the New Testament book of Luke, chapter 9. Jesus and his disciples enter a Samaritan Village. On arrival we read, “The people of the village did not welcome Jesus…” (53). The villagers wanted no part of Jesus. He was clearly rejected.
Two of his disciples, James and John, took personal offense at this. Their solution? Revenge! “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up” (54). Not just revenge, but very harmful consequences. They wanted them to pay for what they did.
Jesus had a much different response. He told James and John to back off. After which it says, “So they went on to another village” (56). In other words, they moved on.
Jesus refused to allow those in the village to dictate his response, or his attitude, toward them. He just moved on. No malice. No attempt to defend himself. No feeling sorry for how he was being unfairly treated. He just moved on.
A daily reading penned Jesus’ response in this way. “Jesus simply and quietly moved on.”
What offense might you be holding onto? How has someone, or something, hurt you? What right do you believe has been violated? What person(s) have affronted you?
Maybe it is time to simply move on. Without drama. Metaphorically unclenching your fist. Drop any sense of righteous indignation. Simply and quietly move on. There are better places and opportunities ahead for you.