For centuries, Albanian clans were known for their bloody family feuds. They considered it cowardly not to avenge the death of one of their own. Sometimes retaliation would set off a chain reaction that left 25 to 30 people dead before it ended.
This bloody tradition continued until 1990, when a group of Albanian peacemakers settled a large number of those clan conflicts. The change came about because the people found something they desired more than revenge. They wanted to become a part of the wider European community, and also to unite in defending themselves against a common enemy.
Back in 1980 I watched a church family in Waterloo deteriorate into a full fledged church split. As in most church splits, one third of the members left to start a new church, another third stayed loyal to the original group (which became New Hope), and another third gave up on the hypocrisy of the church and walked away from God altogether.
The only thing that can bring peace to disagreeing brothers and sisters, is finding something we want more than revenge. We have to desire to reach new people and grow together more than we desire to be right. What have you learned to desire more than revenge?
Tags: more, revenge
A lady came into a garden center and asked for the manager. She then made an unusual request of him. She wanted to know if he could order 2000 roaches and 200 mice.
He mentioned that even though that was a very unusual order, he could probably fulfill her request in 10-12 days.
Twelve days later the manager called the lady saying her order was in. She promptly came to pick it up.
When she arrived the manager pulled her aside and said his curiosity was about to get the best of him. “Why in the world would you order 2000 roaches and 200 mice?” he asked.
“Our family has leased a home and has been forced by the owner to vacate the premises. We were told we had to leave immediately and were told to leave the home as we found it. So we are replenishing the supply of roaches and mice that were there when we first moved in.”
Revenge never accomplishes what we want. What experience do you have with revenge?
Tags: humor, revenge
A newspaper headline read: NO END TO CYCLE OF REVENGE IN MIDEAST. The article was about a 28-year-old man consumed with avenging his uncle’s death in the wake of suicide bombings and military retaliation. “When someone dear to you is killed,” he said, “you can’t sleep; you have to do something.”
But even after killing two men he considered enemies, he still had no sense of satisfaction. No one can ever win by trying to even the score.
I have a friend, a former CTC student, who today heads up a relief ministry in Israel that ministers to victims of terrorism. He is surrounded by bitterness, hatred, and unforgiveness. Revenge seems the natural response to such feelings.
Romans 12:19 speaks to this issue. Have you dealt with feelings of revenge? How did you overcome such urgings?
Tags: Middle East, revenge, unforgiveness