Grudges

             “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”  (Leviticus 19:18)

OK, folks. Don’t bear a grudge against Mr. Biden. Don’t bear a grudge against Mr. Trump. Feel free to add names, keeping in mind that the point of the exercise is that you not hold a grudge. Not against your teachers,  your parents, your siblings, your employer, or even against the long list of monsters who have populated our news casts over the decades: animal abusers, industrialists, serial killers, mass murderers, murderers, rapists, pedophiles, and even genocidal dictators.

One big problem with this is that they deserve to be punished, etc. Yes, they do. But it’s almost certain that you aren’t the person assigned to deliver that punishment. It’s also likely that your holding a grudge won’t factor in the life of these distant people. You might inconvenience someone nearer to hand, like a neighbor, a friend, or a family member, but how long will it take before people consider the one against whom you hold the grudge to be the victim?

Another big problem is that we can bear a grudge without even realizing it. The family member who needs your help can become the cause of your misery. A little irritation here, a thoughtless dig there. You may not remember the cause of it or even notice it building. You might pass it on to other family members who have no idea what it’s about, or, if they decline to join you, you may spread your grudge to them. After all, they’re on his/her side. It ends up being a lot of energy turned negative that simmers and turns toxic.

And it’s not heroic just because you find others who also hold similar grudges.