by free2beme 14 Replies latest jw friends
I remember watching an Oprah show about physically abused and nearly killed women whose attackers were sent to jail and soon to get out. One woman said that she knew that when her attacker got out that he was going to finish the job and kill her. Oprah asked her what she was going to do and the woman said she didnt know. The woman had no plans to do anything! Talk about turning the cheek. *shakes head*
I know what I would do
You know, my husband and I have raised our children, to NEVER start a fight, to walk away, if they could, or do what they had to do to get out of that situation, if they couldn't get away.Then we had an incident at school, where my son was CONSTANTLY bullied, by this classmate. He tried to beat my son up, a number of times, my son would walk away. One day, he couldn't walk away, so he fought his way out, and came home, visibly upset, that he had hurt this kid. The bully, never bothered him again. However, that being said, nowadays, fights are not fought with the fists much anymore....they are packing guns and knives and whatever else they can use to kill. I hope and pray, that as my sons become young men, they will continue to "walk away"....I want them to come home in one piece.
In martial arts I was trained, you had a split second sometimes to decide to fight or flee. That second of time was not based on the thoughts your mind raced through in a short second, but rather on the knowledge life taught you and you learned, up to that time. Basically, to think with emotion only. We always fight! To think with emotion, and knowledge of life, we learn that even a trained expert in fighting, is better to flee. Now this is the literal meaning of my thread. In a figurative sense, it is no different. Someone yells at you, why yell back? If someone wrongs you, why wrong back? I remember a thought from some movie or book I read, that stated in summary, "to repeat an action of the stupid, is to sink to their level and learn from their knowledge." Basically, to do something to another that you see wrong, makes you the reflection of the very wrong you despise.
"If someone wrongs you, why wrong back? I remember a thought from some movie or book I read, that stated in summary, "to repeat an action of the stupid, is to sink to their level and learn from their knowledge." Basically, to do something to another that you see wrong, makes you the reflection of the very wrong you despise."
This is what waking up to what you really are is about. When there is conscious action rather than unconscious reaction you become free. What is it that can 'spot' an unconscious reaction? This 'something' that can spot/recognize unconscious reaction is consciousness itself, and consciousness is what you really are. To wrong back is to remain stuck in unconsciousness; to witness the arising of reactive responses is the beginning of freedom. Without knowing it, most people are sleep-walking through life, unconsciously reacting to everything around them. "Awakening" is about rousing oneself from this conditioned pattern of behavior and remaining conscious of everything as it happens.
"I'm 10 feet tall, bulletproof, and I pack an Uzi. 'Nuff said. "
Perfect. Your long apendages give me ample grabbing space to put you in a joint lock and to render your weapon useless. Not to mention a rifle's a long range weapon and your large body gives a perfect target for a long range weapon vs an Uzi's limited range. :P
