Betrayal is so ugly.
Not just the act itself, but the interest it reaps in the lives of its victims–the betrayed.
The Klingons have a proverb: “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Yeah, it’s sci-fi, but from the bottom of a well of pain, it rolls over the tongue and fastens on the mind like heroine.
If we’ve been betrayed, we have two options: We can take the low road and allow ourselves to give into the base, vengeful thoughts we doctor, feed, and fertilize in our mind. We can theorize, scheme, and plan.
We feverishly ponder what we could do secretly so as to not end up in jail–slash a tire, break a window, egg a house, write something nasty on the bumper of their car so they drive around for days without knowing they have a heinous insult on their tail, or send them an anonymous letter with some verbiage that would prompt fear, remorse, or repentance.
But for what?
To make ourselves feel better? Will such actions really do anything but promote further anger or retaliation? Where will it end? Human history is littered with the blood and bones of the fruit of retribution. It’s an empty victory. A waste of breathe. A futile gesture.
It’s also robbing the Chief Avenger—who doesn’t need a spangled suit, green skin, or a magic hammer—from wreaking havoc in the lives of those who have wreaked havoc in ours.
And He does revenge so much better than we ever could. But more, it’s robbing Him of the glory that is rightfully His as our Hero, Provider, and Protector.
You think you’re angry? Remember, He wrote the universal law, “You reap what you sow,” and a woman’s scorn has nothing on a Father’s rage at his child’s victimization.
Sure, His revenge may take a little longer than ours, but it will come. And when it does, it will be like a tsunami in their lives, laying everything to waste and sweeping all of their temporary victories, all their ill-gotten gain, and all of their towering foundationless castles of sand into the sea.
And we will be safe on the distant shore, our consciences clear.
When you’ve been betrayed, which path have you chosen?