I love action movies, I love boxing movies, I love martial art fighting, anything that involves the underdog giving the bad guy exactly what he deserves. I like seeing a good punch being delivered. That might sound weird, but it got me thinking. I have never once in my entire life thrown a punch directly at a person. I have been in fights as a kid, but it never involved fists, it was more pulling of the hair or tackling to the ground or being bit in the arm pit (who bites the arm pit!?). I have had plenty of opportunity to throw a punch, but always in my mind right before I would go throw it, I thought “ok, this is going to hurt the person I am about to deliver this too, and it is supposed to, but am I really ready to receive what is going to come back my way?” I have never been in a fight since leaving Ireland, avoiding a fight was a daily thing over there, for some reason I was a good target. People say you never really know yourself unless you get in a good fight, part of me believes that, but part of me does not want to, because I do not see getting into any fights in my future, I am about as non-violent as one can get, I will avoid a fight, and avoid confrontation, is that being weak? I don’t think so, sometimes its harder to walk away.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:38-42, NIV)

Growing up in school I was thought this passage and every time I heard the above passage I have had a hard time swallowing it, if anyone punched me in the face, I would unleash an Irish wrath that would make their ancestors quiver. However, I have unknowingly practiced the above passage in most cases, if I was treated wrongly, I would turn right back around and help them again if they asked for it. I have my Mom and Dad to thank for that, they were always there to help anyone, no matter how wrong they had been treated in the past by those same folks, a helping hand was always offered when it was needed.

Anyway…..those are my thoughts for today and a load off my mind.