Turn the other cheek

Turn the other cheek

This phrase from history is taken from Jesus’ sermon on the mount. In this passage, we have this phrase where we are told to turn the other cheek. And yes, while it may have been misused a time or two and I expect misunderstood more times than I can count the idea it teaches still applies today, or perhaps, even more, today than in many years past.

The idea behind turning the other cheek is fundamentally to not take offense. To literally choose to not take upon yourself the need to respond to every statement or action that was intended to twist your knickers. This command to let go of your need to retaliate for personal offense was intended to set you free from the control of others.

It is very difficult to manipulate people who are able and indeed choose to act instead of reacting to what they are told. In today’s social media and the media, itself we are continually inundated with words and phrases designed to stir up our emotions and through them our actions. If the individual instead of choosing to take offense and then retaliate for that offense, through words or actions, chooses instead to think about the reason the one might have spoken as they did. The chances of moving forward in our understanding of each other and the actual issues seriously increase.

Turning the other cheek is not about global management or even telling the police how to do their jobs, this teaching is about how we are intended to handle everyday interactions with people and insults. Not every insult and action needs a response. In truth, the vast majority of insults and rudeness are best simply ignored. This permits healing instead of a continuous spiral leading to greater and greater frustration and indeed hatred.

Turn the other cheek and tomorrow it just might be an easier place to breathe.

Blessings