Scripture: Proverbs 19:11
A person’s wisdom yields patience;
it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

Thought for the Day: We have been learning from God and teaching each other that vengeance is disruptive and dishonorable for well over 5000 years. Then why is it I can turn on the television and watch a show called “Revenge”? Why is it that after our country is attacked, thumb we feel the need to rush to judgment and exact 70 times the damage on our alleged offender? This desire for vengeance just fuels both sides of the fight. They attack us, we punish them, and they punish us for punishing them, and so on until we’re caught in a vicious cycle of retribution without any hope of forgiveness.

God demands we become a peaceful people, and that means letting go. Letting go of perceived wrongs, letting go of fear, letting go of guilt and shame. Because otherwise, the entire planet will remain trapped in the current cyclical hell of retribution, constantly chasing vengeance like a dog chases its tail. Except eventually, the dog realizes this is a losing battle. I wonder when we’ll figure that out?

Prayer: Merciful and Loving God, liberate us from this ludicrous cycle of retribution. Help us grow spiritually, so that we understand and respect our differences, rather than reacting to them with fear and violence. Forgive us all, Mighty Lord, as we struggle to awaken from millennia of violent reaction to our world and each other. Transform us into new beings of love, respect, and mutual cooperation, as exemplified in Christ. Do it now, God, do it now. Amen.