Thinking of love and hate, honesty and dishonesty as extensions of myself helps shape how I build relationships and how I act. The truest honesty I show to others is reflected in how I extend honesty to myself and share it with them. Those who are not honest with themselves are also not honest with others. If I don’t forgive myself, my hatred for others also fosters negative feelings within me. I can accept others in myself just as much as I accept myself. My well-being always comes first, with others coming second. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Jesus taught, “If you got slapped your right cheek, turn the other cheek.” One of the actions that the Jewish Qumran community denied and forbade was “pointing with the left hand.” Violations of this rule brought sanctions from the community. To hit the right cheek means the opponent strikes with an unclean left or right backhand. This cheek slap is deliberately insulting and humiliating rather than merely a pain-inflicting action. Therefore, this teaching of Jesus, “turn the other cheek,” suggests not allowing oneself to be struck by the back of the hand and can signify not being helpless but being active in nonviolent resistance without seeking revenge or retaliation. Perhaps this teaching carries a frightening meaning. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”