Love stops vicious cycles

Love stops vicious cycles

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” can set into motion a vicious cycle of revenge and retaliation. In systems thinking, this can be framed as a negative reinforcing loop that can degenerate societies.

The wisdom of turning the other cheek is perhaps a principle that aims to stop such vicious cycles from snowballing into a generational kind of hate. From the perspective of a greater good, “loving your enemies” seem a reasonable antidote to the poison of revenge.

However, from an individual perspective, loving one’s enemies can be a difficult and challenging task. It requires a great deal of emotional maturity, patience, and empathy to extend kindness and forgiveness to those who have wronged us. In some cases, it may even feel impossible to extend love and forgiveness to those who have committed heinous crimes or caused significant harm.

Loving to stop vicious cycles is such an impossible struggle. But in overcoming this pain, we allow our humanity to be at its fullest.

Matthew 5:38-48. For he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-050: FEBRUARY 19, 2023]