Break the Cycle

Despite all of the progress and advancements that have been made in this day and age, it seems that our sense of civility is somehow going in reverse.  And much of it is playing out on a 21^st century frontier – online.

It has been a repeating scene in communities everywhere over the last several years, with numerous showings on the national/world stage. Someone posts a comment/photo/video on social media, giving a limited perspective, and a whole slew of people join in with opinions, proclaiming outrage and demanding action without knowing the whole story – many of whom have no connection nor full understanding of the situation.  With each wave of accusation, the tide swells, and more people jump aboard the ship and join the crew of fury.  Before you know it, it’s a full blown mob-scene. 

With each strike of the keyboard, the mob spews its venomous slander, and the poison quickly spreads, leaving its victims in toxic shock.  The accused and their reputation are trampled and dragged through the mud, and they are condemned and deemed guilty by the court of public opinion before the word go.  “Get out of town or be burned at the stake!”

Heaven help us.

How do we demand justice while in the same breath forgoing any sense of civility?  How do we promote human dignity while in the same breath hurling insults?  How do we command respect while in the same breath showing none ourselves? 

Oh the tragedy, such devastation and heartbreak.  Having experienced it myself in the past, I know the pain all too well. And every time I witness it happening to someone else, my heart breaks a little more.

I can just imagine the devil and his legion of demons having a big laugh at it all, having a good ol’ time watching us humans destroy each other. We’re making their jobs so easy that they hardly have to lift a finger.  They simply stir up an offense, and with the tap of the keyboard and the click of the mouse, we humans take action – and they just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

But what if we refuse to be an actor on their stage?  What if we refuse to be a player in their game?  What if we refuse to be a pawn in their scheme?

What if we stop treating each other as the enemy, and recognize who the real enemy is? 

For our enemy is not flesh and blood, but spiritual forces of evil, evil that can only be conquered when we’re equipped with the right armor – the armor of God.  Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, God’s word, and prayer – may we put on the whole armor of God and stand firm against the devil’s schemes.  [Ephesians 6:10-18]  

May we choose to break the cycle.

Even when we have been wronged.  Even when we have been hurt.  Even when we have been treated unfairly.   

May we choose to break the cycle. 

Even when words sting.  Even when hearts break.  Even when friends betray.

May we choose to break the cycle.

It has often been said that hurting people hurt people.  And until we make a choice to break the cycle, we’re going to keep right on hurting each other.

The following quote that I recently saw posted on MINDFUL CHRISTIANITY sums it up well: 

Be the person who breaks the cycle. If you were judged, choose understanding. If you were rejected, choose acceptance. If you were shamed, choose compassion. Be the person you needed when you were hurting, not the person who hurt you. Vow to be better than what broke you – to heal instead of becoming bitter so you can act from your heart, not your pain.

That is how we turn the tide.  That is how we bridge the divide.  That is how we keep the scene from repeating. 

That is how we break the cycle.

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“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV)

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”  1 Peter 3:9 (NIV)