Did you remember Lucy Liu’s character ‘Ling’ from Ally McBeal?  Ling was beautiful and confident… and she knew it.  She was also cold, never caring for what other people thought and felt.

I actually liked that character because this was something I could use at work in the corporate arena where politics and crazy personalities abound.

Well, when I did encounter one such crazy personality, I realized something — I just can’t be like Ling.  I can’t be a b*tch.

I guess when your Lord and Savior says, “Love your enemies,” you really just can’t.  Mind you, this commandment of Jesus is revolutionary.  I didn’t accept this blindly.  It was all for the good.  (I explained more of that here.)

But practicing it is another thing.  When I faced a certain really crazy personality in the office, I was inclined to so many things.  One of them is to tell this person off and set the radar crazy on him such that this person will never again sleep in peace because of the harsh words I can say against this person.  Another is to quit, simply because I’d rather expend my energy somewhere else than even spend a second on this person.  All the crazy things prompted by one crazy person… really won’t change the crazy situation.

What happened to me was really persecution.  I was told that I was “too professional” in the workplace.   I was told that I should be “flexible” enough to allow company equipment to be used for their personal use outside the office.

Doh.  I just can’t.  And I won’t.  I didn’t budge on that.  Other companies realize that work is work.  Being professional is what is needed and here is a self-professed hard-headed ego who tells me otherwise.

I guess there was much that this person did say.  And much I could say about it too.  In the end, I chose not to say much.  I cannot argue with someone whose mind is made up.  I cannot reason with someone who is not at all open.  I cannot talk to someone who has the audacity and motive to put me down.

This is where I sighed and wondered why it is that we can’t let our enemies feel what they just let us feel.  Why is that we can’t make them suffer the way they let us suffered especially when we were doing the right thing?

Now this is where I came to terms with God and myself.  As I asked God that, I realized that I wanted to depend it all on myself.  I mean, what can I possibly do?  Sure enough, if pain was inflicted on me, I can inflict pain back.  And even as I am sure I can inflict as much pain than what I experienced, what assurance do I have that the situation can be better?

I’m sure you know that inflicting more pain only causes additional pain.  Nothing else.  Living with the satisfaction for doing revenge will only be for the moment.

Here’s something that God spoke to me about:

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord. On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17-21

Somehow, this verse in the Bible sounds illogical.  It sounds too doormat to be considered by mere convention.  But aren’t those contrary to the status quo always considered radical as well?

It didn’t say to be stupid.  It just spoke of a method on how to deal with enemies.  By doing good to your enemy, you actually “heap burning coals on his head.” You know, give that person something to think about all night so that his or her head’s getting so hot, they can’t think.

Well by faith, my method was to bring some peace offering cakes.  Gave them some food and maybe some for thought.  I figure, if this crazy person brought other crazy persons and critized a kindness, then I am sure that more wickedness will be exposed.  God will deal with them better than I could.

It is better to have peace knowing that God is taking care of these people right now than watching my back for every retaliation that I’ve set.  It’s better to pick my battles anyway and expend my energy elsewhere than waste my time scheming on them.

It’s a different level of shrewdness.