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Just my thoughts #0721

Life is a journey to find intersections. It’s about discovering commonalities between two different attributes: what I want to do and what I am good at, what I recognize and what others recognize, and what I have to do and what I want to do. Knowing your identity well increases your chances of success. However, many people focus only on what they want to do. This mindset can weaken the connection between me and others. We live each alone in this world, but not completely alone. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

Just my thoughts #0212

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”