Love your enemies? Is that practical?

“I do believe this has to be fought on a higher spiritual level, but the more I learn, the harder I find it is to love thy neighbour, when neighbours so willfully do horrible things to each other and others.” —A comment from a reader of my recent badexperiment.com post “A Disturbing Connection.”

Who would not sympathize with that victims viewpoint? Indeed, it may seem that the Bible’s counsel to “love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44) simply isn’t practical for individuals targeted by ongoing harassment that includes psychological attacks by community based groups and directed-energy weapons torture. Perhaps you feel that way too. Putting that into practice may be the most difficult thing we are asked to do, especially when confronted by the evil of others on a daily basis!

Here is a motivation that you may not have thought about. Following the admonition to “love your enemies” can mean the difference between good health and bad! A recent study found that a single bout of anger produces effects in the body that lasts more than a week including elevated blood pressure. In fact, blood pressure continues to rise for a week after a single stressful incident! Researchers at the University of California and Columbia University examining the long term effects of anger have concluded that “stressful events have the potential to continue to do harm long after they are ended.” Anger has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease, hardening of the arteries, and other health problems.

Think about it . . . If the mere sight of someone who has done you harm triggers anger, it also burdens your cardiovascular system! That internal damage is compounded if your anger is repeatedly triggered on a daily basis!

I have seen rich benefits in my personal (and admittedly imperfect) efforts to “love my enemies.” Of course, caution is always in order when dealing with such individuals. Yet, I find treating all persons with common decency and kindness emotionally liberating. Unresolved anger is a physical and emotional drain. By refusing to allow anger to develop when targeted by unjust treatment, I have more energy and greater emotional control. I get more done. I am calmer, and less likely to be distracted from what really matters on a day by day basis. This is a daily challenge. However, by focusing on the practical benefits of doing so, I can keep my thinking and actions under control. Responding in this way means my survival and capacity for joy are not diminished, but strengthened. The adversity I face, while being a part of my life, never overwhelms it.

Despite enduring more than eleven years of attacks, I have never suffered from high blood pressure, ulcers, or other serious psychosomatic effects of long term distress. I have never taken any kind of medication or sleeping pills. I have avoided alcohol dependency and abuse, and do not use any illegal drugs. “Loving my enemies” gives me the strength to face my challenges without emotional crutches.

Undeniably, learning to “love your enemies” is a challenge. Yet, it can help you to minimize or even avoid long-term damage caused by distressing negative emotions. That is good for both your mental and physical health. In fact, we can think of the counsel to “love your enemies” as good medicine!

A Reader’s Response:
I found a comment emailed to me by one reader of this article of value. It is quoted below:

“I grasped this concept a few years back and I MADE myself ACT happy. I did this by forcing a smile on my face every time I went out in public . . . even though I did not feel happy, I displayed happiness and soon I started to see the reactions from the community stalkers. They were not happy that I was smiling all the time and a couple of them got very angry at me because I was smiling all the time..This encouraged me even more to continue with my ACT of happiness . . . the result was I indeed did become happy and the physical ailments my body was feeling diminished to the point where I only feel mild attacks to my body . . . I have seen a remarkable difference in my health and also I saw that my community harassers no longer verbally tried to harass me . . . I still get the odd real grumpy person, but I just laugh like crazy at them and give them the peace sign . . . Spread the LOVE . . . It works wonders.” —Submitted by Reader

Having been a target of psychological attacks and directed energy weapons torture for eleven years, I have had the opportunity to observe my antagonists at length. In some cases, I have been in proximity to the same individuals participating in my harassment for two to five years. This gives me the opportunity to study them. I have been especially interested in discerning the long-term effects of hostility and mean-spiritedness on a person’s physical health. Doing so is a far more meaningful exercise to me than simply becoming provoked by their appearance.

In essence, I have watched a number of these individuals age before my eyes. While my observations are only that, merely observations . . . I come away convinced of the enormous physical and emotional toll that their occupation wreaks on their own bodies and minds. To my eyes, it appears that many of them are afflicted in middle age with maladies normally associated with old age. You also see the signs of a temperament hardened by cruelty. Recent studies have documented the long-term effects of hostility on the body. I was doing some research on this issue and found an excellent article that discussed the challenges law enforcement officers face in coping with anger. Dr. Dorothy McCoy, a clinical counselor, provides helpful tips in this column that can be of great value to the victims of long-term injustice as well. Here is a quote I found especially useful.

“. . . Approximately 90 percent of all situations are neutral. That means they are neither negative nor positive until you process them through your belief system. You decide if they are stressful or not. We create the majority of our stress and anger. If we believe that we can successfully resolve a situation, then we do not consider it stressful.”—My Thoughts Create My Anger?

This shows the powerful role played by our own attitude in determining if daily provocations become a source of stress. In many cases, it is not the situation that creates stress. We make the decision to respond in a stressful way. If that is the case, we also have the power to decide not to respond with stress-producing anger or frustation!

I found a fascinating thought in this regard in a Bible prophecy that discussed Jesus Christ’s response to the enormously stressful events he endured leading up to his death—the ultimate act of injustice. In Isaiah 50:6, commenting on what he faced, it says: “My face I did not conceal from humiliating things and spit.” This refers to the humiliating treatment Jesus would face of being punched, cursed, reviled, and spit upon shortly before his death. Humiliating and stressful treatment indeed! However, notice his response as revealed in the next verse (Isaiah 50:7): “But the Sovereign Lord Jehovah himself will help me. That is why I shall not have to feel humiliated. That is why I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.” Jesus, confident of his Heavenly Father’s support, chose not to feel humiliated by humiliating events in his life. He chose not to be ashamed. Likewise, we can also choose our response to the humiliating and potentially stressful events we face. Choosing not to become angry and mean-spirited, with its resultant stress, can be a tremendous protection for our emotional and physical health. It will also allow us to control the outcome of potentially harmful encounters. Our controlled and principled response is an admirable display of genuine courage in imitation of the flint-like determination of the Christ.

So, in closing, how will you choose to respond?

Can you imagine this being your life story? Your older brothers sell you into slavery as a final act of abusive hatred that started in your childhood. As a slave, you are falsely accused of attempted rape, and incarcerated. All told, despite your innocence, thirteen years of your life are spent as either a slave or prisoner. How would that experience affect you? Would it break your spirit? Would you spend your days planning an escape, brooding, seeking a way to retaliate against those who wronged you? Would a string of injustices that began in your childhood make you forever distrustful and incapable of love or happiness?

These are the true-life experiences of Joseph, whose account is found in the Bible book of Genesis. I found his life story a source of great inspiration for any today who may be victims of long term injustices such as directed energy weapons torture and forms of psychological warfare that include gang-stalking.

By the time he reached the age of 17, Joseph had a serious problem within his own family. His older brothers saw that Jacob, their father, “loved [Joseph] more than all his brothers.” Consequently, “they began to hate him, and they were not able to speak peacefully to him.” (Genesis 37:4) We can imagine the anxiety and stress that this situation caused Joseph. Eventually, the hatred of Joseph’s brothers became so intense that they sold him into slavery.—Genesis 37:26-33

While a slave in Egypt, Joseph had to resist the immoral advances of his master’s wife. Angry at being rejected, she falsely accused Joseph of trying to rape her. He was given “over to the prison house,” where “with fetters they afflicted his feet, into irons his soul came.” (Genesis 39:7-20) What a distressing outcome! For about 13 years, Joseph was either a slave or a prisoner because of injustices brought on him by others, including members of his own family.—Genesis 37:2; 41:46.

What is exemplary about Joseph is his refusal to be crippled by hatred and bitterness. How do we know that he resisted the tendency to become bitterly angry during his trials? Consider how he reacted when he did have an opportunity to take vengeance on his brothers who had come to Egypt to buy grain. The account says: “[Joseph] turned away from them and began to weep. . . . After that Joseph gave the command, and [his servants] went filling up [the brothers’] receptacles with grain. Also, they were to return the money of the men to each one’s individual sack and to give them provisions for the journey.” Later, when sending his brothers to bring their father to Egypt, Joseph encouraged them with the words: “Do not get exasperated at one another on the way.” In both word and deed, Joseph proved that he had not let bitterness and resentment poison his life.—Genesis 42:24, 25; 45:24.

Yes, instead of harboring self-destructive anger, Joseph took the opportunity to help his brothers when they were in need. He did not allow bitterness to destroy his good qualities. Can we learn a lesson from that?

Secondly, Joseph never allowed his circumstances to control his life. We can become so preoccupied with what we cannot do in a distressing circumstance, that we lose sight of what we can. While serving as a slave, Joseph worked diligently and distinguished himself. As a result, he was appointed as head of his master’s household. When he found himself in prison he again applied himself and was appointed to run the prison by the chief officer. His resourcefulness and hard work earned him a high ranking position in the Egyptian government upon his release.

Joseph made the best possible use of his resources in spite of his environment. He even earned the respect of individuals who would normally not have his best interests at heart! His unpleasant circumstances never robbed him of his civility and dignity.

Those who are unjustly victimized by programs of psychological warfare and covert torture can learn much from Joseph. There are things we face that we have no control over. However, there are areas of our life where we can make the best of our situation. Do not let bad circumstances determine the path your life takes! Realistically, we still must earn an income, and live our lives to the best of our ability. We must still be productive members of society and good neighbors. We must also learn to interact with those who target us for abuse in a civil way! Keeping a positive outlook on life, and focusing on the good we can do can protects our mental health and prevents self-destructive behavior.

The lessons learned from Joseph have been of great encouragement to me. I take great pleasure in doing the best work that I can, looking for ways to help others, and maintaining a pleasant disposition before all. Of course, it is not easy. But it is worth the effort! Reflecting on this account also helps me to appreciate that I am not alone. Injustice and oppression afflicts many. Learning how to respond in the best possible way is vital to my survival and long-term emotional stability.  It is possible to choose a response to long-term distresses that allows us to live the best possible life under any circumstance!

Set The Example For Your Persecutors
The ability to restrain the urge to retaliate is an act of singular courage. Knowing that I have treated even those who harbor ill will towards me with civility and decency promotes inner peace. Vindictive, spiteful people are always ‘watching their back’ worried about running into someone they’ve harmed. I do not have that fear, nor the host of nagging anxieties that come with it. Of course, this does not mean I throw all caution to the wind. Certain individuals must be treated with caution when their bad motives become apparent. However, my civility and restraint will teach them a far more powerful and meaningful lesson than any returned slight, insult or bitter tirade ever could.

“I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.” - Psalm 39:1,2

How should we react if we are surrounded by individuals who are intent on provoking us? That scenario is common to those who are victims of “gang-stalking” and other forms of psychological warfare. Have you given thought to the power and practical wisdom of silence? The Psalmist encourages us to put a “muzzle” on our mouth when surrounded by the wicked. In other words, to remain silent, not responding to provocation. Why is that the best possible response? Keeping silent prevents us from saying something in the heat of the moment that we may later regret. Uncontrolled, rash speech can be self-destructive. Indeed, that is the goal of the attacks we endure!

The best way to avoid saying something we may live to regret, is to simply say nothing. We are wasting our words on those who do not have our best interests at heart. Say nothing! Can you see the clear, simple logic in that? A good example in this regard is provided by Jesus Christ. When he was surrounded by false accusers looking for something in his speech to entrap him, note his response: “But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I command you by the living God to tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God!” -Matthew 26:63  Jesus discerned that his enemies were intent on finding something in his own words to entrap him. Knowing that, he simply kept silent. What a fine example!

I am writing these thoughts at 3:30AM, after being awakened by the covert use of acoustic weapons in the adjoining apartment. This is a good time to “watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin!” Rather than dwelling on thoughts that will cause me to become resentful and bitter, my mind is refreshed by focusing on upbuilding, and emotionally healthful ideas such as those contained in the Bible. There is no better way to strengthen my mind for the daily challenges I face!

“There is no challenge in life that is too hard to confront . . .”

In the Himalayan winter, without food or shelter, a human being is not expected to live longer than a week. James Scott, however, lasted 43 days. He survived extreme cold, hunger, isolation and despair, hanging on to the dwindling hope that a search team might find him, or that he could crawl out when the snow thawed. How can those of us who face long term injustices such as radiation weapons torture and “gang stalking” benefit from his lesson in survival?

James was a 22 year-old karate enthusiast, who suddenly became lost in the Himalaya Mountains when a sudden blizzard swept in, hiding his trail. He was in real danger of freezing or starving to death. He recalled having seen people in karate competitions “get slowly ground down, each blow draining them of their spirit, until . . . they became completely defenseless.” He said: “That was how I felt as I zipped up my sleeping bag and feebly ate some snow. My spirit had been crushed and all the will to live had left me. Never had I felt so defeated.”—Lost in the Himalayas.

Isn’t it true that as we face long-term injustices designed to break our will and spirit, it may feel as if we are slowly being ground down and defeated. Nevertheless, despite such seemingly overwhelming challenges, we can learn how to survive relatively intact physically, emotionally, and spiritually until a solution arrives. How? Here are two valuable tips given by survival experts that may benefit victims of ongoing injustice:

The first is to avoid worsening an already difficult situation. “Your strategy,” says The Urban Survival Handbook, “must be to avoid unnecessary risks . . . and minimize the damage caused by those you can’t avoid.” This helps us to see the wisdom of avoiding attitudes or behavior that escalate emotional harm or cause confrontation. Learn to walk away rather than cause needless conflict.

The second—and perhaps the more important—has to do with our attitude. “Survival,” says The SAS Survival Handbook, “is as much a mental attitude as physical endurance and knowledge.”

One important key to survival is maintaining a hopeful and positive outlook. Sometimes there is little you can do to escape the effect of the psychological war waged against you. However, don’t give up; don’t throw in the towel. “It is easy to let yourself go, to collapse and be consumed in self-pity” when exposed to a hostile or dangerous environment, says The SAS Survival Handbook. Do not give in to negative thoughts and emotions. You may be amazed at how much you can endure. “Men and women have shown that they can survive in the most adverse situations,” says the same handbook. How did they do it? They survived, it says, “because of their determination to do so.” Be determined not to be defeated by injustice.

James Scott, mentioned earlier, was eventually rescued from what could have become his Himalayan grave. He said that his struggle to survive had taught him at least one important lesson. What was that? “There is no challenge in life that is too hard to confront,” he said. Tim Macartney-Snape, an experienced mountaineer who was amazed that James Scott was able to survive long enough to be found alive, also drew a lesson. He said: “As long as there is any hint of hope, you must never give up.” So, no matter how dark things may appear to be, you only make matters worse if you lose hope. Never give up hope of rescue.

One more thing that I try to keep in mind:  Our stalkers and attackers take great delight in showing their pleasure at our failings, no matter how minor. If we allow our thinking to be poisoned by their view of us, it will destroy self-esteem. You will have bad days. You will make mistakes. I find the scripture at Proverbs 24:16 to be of great comfort in this regard: “The righteous one may fall even seven times, and he will certainly get up.” Yes, we “may fall,” or make mistakes frequently as we try to cope with our persecution. When that happens, the important thing is that we “get up!” Be determined to recover, learn from your mistakes if necessary and move ahead. Instead of just thinking of yourself as a general failure, pinpoint what you failed at and what caused it. This way you can do better next time. This scripture also shows the need not to take ourselves too seriously. Sometimes, you can laugh at yourself!  We all fail at times. Just be determined to restore a healthy, balanced view of yourself. This will go a long way towards protecting our mental and emotional health.

Gangstalking, and other forms of psychological attacks are, at their very core, a form of adversity. Therefore, like any adversity we may undergo, they ruthlessly reveal our emotional weaknesses. That is not necessarily a bad thing. That same adversity now offers us the opportunity to cultivate and strengthen emotional virtues that equip us to successfully face this and future challenges. The childish traits that cause us to react poorly can be replaced with a powerful and enduring strength-of-character. Today, was for me, a time to “put away childish things” . . . Let me explain.

I was in Papago Park, a scrub brush, sand and rock-filled desert preserve near my home in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. I often use this setting for improving my compositional skills as a photographer. As is my custom, I was in Papago Park today to capture some of the warm late-afternoon winter light that makes for great photos. Of course, the “gang-stalkers” engaged in my harassment follow me into this setting, like any other. One of their typical tactics is to pretend to be an amorous couple while keeping me under surveillance.

There was one such couple in Papago Park today, tracking my movements. As I setup my camera and tripod, they stood perhaps 60 feet behind me out of my line of sight. However, by using the reflection in the rear LCD of my digital camera like a mirror, I could see that they were watching me intently. When I turned around, now facing them, they quickly resumed their “cover” as an amorous couple. This sun-baked, shadeless, open desert setting is perhaps the least comfortable place in all of Phoenix for a couple to be necking and petting. Yet, there they were, glancing at me repeatedly as I photographed the landscape.

The human ego is a childish thing that must be put away. Especially when one is the target of repeated psychological attacks. One can go for years maintaining needed self-control and yet, in an unguarded moment, allow the childish ego to rear its ugly head. Normally, I ignore these gangstalkers. Yet, on this occasion, my foolish ego got the best of me. I proceeded to walk over to them.

If and when I choose to do so, by combining my physical bearing (over 6 feet tall and in reasonably good shape) with an authoritative tone, I can become an intimidating presence. Using that ill-chosen talent, I asked to take their picture, something they were loathe to allow. While my words were carefully chosen for their innocence, they were said in such a way that subtly acknowledged that I knew why they were there. The tenor of my speech was also mildly condescending. However, I did not use profanity or threaten. We had a few tension-filled words of conversation. They became very uncomfortable with the idea of having their photo taken and left the area.

For a quick moment I felt a sense of having won a small victory. That was quickly replaced with a deep sense of shame. What I had just done was immature and unacceptable. By that one childish act, I had given my persecutors a victory. For years they have tried to rob me of my dignity. In that one moment, I voluntarily handed over what they could not gain by torture and humiliation for over ten years. I had become no better than my persecutors. In a small way, I was now imitating their cruel thinking and behavior.

The person who takes an illicit pleasure in humiliating others is like a man who mutilates himself and then laughs at his wretched condition in the mirror. We are all part of the same human family. Humiliating others is an expression of the low regard we have for our ourselves.

Interestingly, as I observed today, many of those who are used as “gangstalkers” come from the same working class backgrounds as the people they victimize. This strategy by the covert government agencies that exploit them is not without precedent.

The Nazi’s used a similar strategy in the concentration camps to oppress prisoners. They would select certain prisoners to work inside Nazi concentration camps during World War II in various lower administrative positions. Called Kapos, they would receive more privileges than normal prisoners in exchange for their keeping their fellow prisoners in line. The Kapos, many of whom were Jewish, often proved to be more brutal and oppressive toward their fellow prisoners than the SS Guards. In fact, many who served as Kapos were so brutal in their treatment of fellow prisoners that they were tried along with Nazi officers for war crimes at the end of World War II. The word Kapos, which means “combat police” in German, has since come to mean a “self-loathing Jew’ because of the notorious behavior of Jewish Kapos toward their brethren in the concentration camps. This same cruelty is seen in the actions of modern day “gangstalkers.” Their psychological brutality is directed towards their own neighbors, persons much like themselves. In a real sense, they are modern-day Kapos.

Gangstalking is a “childish thing.” Those who employ it avoid the honest, open communication and interaction characteristic of mature individuals, using spite, hubris and cowardly mob violence to address disputes they have with fellowmen. Gangstalking and other psychological attacks are not tools of those who have “put away childish things.”

Knowing this, I am more determined than ever to avoid the cruel thinking of my persecutors. As that gangstalking couple walked away, I had to stand there for a few minutes pondering my own actions. I said a silent prayer, asking for God’s forgiveness. I was intent on apologizing if I saw those two individuals again. Irregardless of how I am treated, I must retain my dignity and humanity and reject injustice of any sort when dealing with my fellow man. That is the mark of a mature man who has “put away childish things.”

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” - 1 Corinthians 13:11  King James Version

A young girl who was writing a paper for school came to her father and asked, “Dad, what is the difference between anger and exasperation?” The father replied, “It’s mostly a matter of degree. Let me show you what I mean.”

With that the father went to the telephone and dialed a number at random. To the man who answered the phone, he said, “Hello, is Melvin there?” The man answered, “There is no one living here named Melvin. Why don`t you learn to look up numbers before you dial?”. “See,” said the father to his daughter. “That man was not a bit happy with our call. He was probably very busy with something and we annoyed him. Now watch….”

The father dialed the number again. “Hello, is Melvin there?” asked the father. “Now look here!” came the heated reply. “You just called this number and I told you that there is no Melvin here! You’ve got lot of nerve calling again!” The receiver slammed down hard. The father turned to his daughter and said, “You see, that was anger. Now I’ll show you what exasperation means.”

He dialed the same number, and when a violent voice roared, “Hello!” The father calmly said, “Hello, this is Melvin. Have there been any calls for me?”

Do you appreciate the value of humor in coping with difficult situations? The Encyclopædia Britannica says concerning laughter: “One might call it a luxury reflex. Its only function seems to be to provide relief from tension. . . . The explosive exhalations of laughter seem designed to ‘puff away’ surplus tension in a kind of respiratory gymnastics.” Imagine that! Instant relief from tension! Think of the practical benefits this can bring victims of directed energy weapons harassment and psychological attacks.

Humor can brighten up even an apparently hopeless situation. Readers Digest of May 1973 relates the experience of psychiatrist Viktor E. Frankl, who was imprisoned in a German concentration camp during World War II:

“Piled on top of malnutrition, exhaustion and disease, suicidal despair was the big killer in these citadels of degradation.”

“As a psychiatrist, Frankl knew that humor was one of the soul’s best survival weapons, since it can create, if only for moments, aloofness from horror. Therefore, Frankl made a rule that once each day he and his friend must invent and tell an amusing anecdote, specifically about something which could happen after their liberation.” As Frankl observed in his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, “Humor was another of the soul’s weapons in the fight for self-preservation.”

Doing this helped to make Frankl’s torturous experience of life in a concentration camp more endurable. The Reader’s Digest article concluded with a question worthy of our contemplation: “If humor can be used successfully against such odds, what can’t you and I do with it in daily life?”

One of the powerful lessons I have learned in facing constant psychological assaults (directed energy weapons torture and community policing based gang stalking - see My Story Begins), is the need to cultivate humility. It can help us to calmly endure hardships that would break the mightiest of men. A practical lesson in this regard was furnished by Jesus Christ on the last night of his life on earth.

Jesus knew that his disciples needed to cultivate specific qualities that would help them to work together and endure hardship. To that end, only hours before his death, he focused his energies on teaching them. One such lesson was taught by example when Jesus, although being their Teacher and Master, girded a towel and proceeded to wash the feet of each of his disciples. -John 13:3-5 This menial task was usually reserved for the lowliest servant in Jewish households of the day. However, by performing this humble act, Jesus wanted to stress by example that his disciples must willingly serve others, not “lord it over” people as was common among political leaders.

The Bible account indicates that Jesus washed the feet of all twelve of his disciples in attendance, including Judas Iscariot. Amazingly, Jesus was well aware that Judas was secretly plotting his murder! -John 13:2 Yet, he calmly washed his feet along with the others. We know that Jesus was a man of deep feelings. Can you imagine how being so close to the man who would betray him affected his emotions? How would you feel in this situation? Yet, Jesus calmly performed this humble act, without revealing what he knew to the other disciples, or allowing his emotions to get the better of him.

It is this singular act, washing the feet of a wicked betrayer that reveals to me the depth of humility found in Jesus. Why did he do it? A noble characteristic of humility is that it allows us to focus on the needs of others even as we face extreme hardship. Jesus felt that the lesson in humility he was teaching his beloved disciples, was more important than his personal feelings regarding Judas. With extraordinary humility, he washed the feet of all, including his betrayer, so that his disciples could be taught without distraction. He pushed aside his own feelings and interests to meet the needs of his disciples. He held his disciples in such high esteem, that he considered their needs more important than his own. -Phillipians 2:3,4 Do you see the lesson we can learn from this?

As victims of psychological attacks, we know that our persecutors are hoping that we will resort to extremes of anger or show terror. If you fly into a fit of rage or burst into tears and express hurt or fear, he is getting what he wants. (see Tips on Coping With Bullying). However, like Jesus, we can even be in close quarters with our persecutors and still maintain complete emotional control by cultivating humility.

One of the intended byproducts of psychological warfare is forcing the victim to become so focused on his own misery that he isolates himself from others emotionally. Such thinking makes one mentally unbalanced and prone to rash behavior. However, the beauty of humilty is that it helps us to remain focused on the interests of others in spite of our own adversities. We avoid becoming overwhelmed by our problems. Humbly serving the needs of others is one of the most emotionally healthy activities we can engage in. It is especially beneficial during times of personal crisis, as it works to protect emotional and mental health.

We can be certain that Jesus true disciples never forgot his extraordinary display of restraint and humility. It provided an appealing motivation for their own cultivation of this priceless quality. Can you see how cultivating humility in imitation of Jesus can help you?

“We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” - Viktor E. Frankl, Neurologist, Author and Holocaust survivor

An Additional Comment

There is another vital lesson that came to mind as I reflected on the example Jesus set in washing the feet of his betrayer, Judas. The truly kindhearted person can display kindness even toward the unappreciative.  Genuine kindness is not hypocritical, or merely a thin veneer of politeness and courtesy that quickly dissipates when others are rude.

I am intensely concerned that the daily barrage of rudeness that confronts me never darkens my heart. Writing this blog is a constant reminder that I must follow the advice I pass on to others! Far more than any physical or psychosomatic  harm my persecutors may cause, I worry about losing my humanity. Losing the ability to feel genuine love for my fellow man is the price I simply cannot pay. Reflecting on and sharing the positive lessons I learn through these writings helps me to hold on to that most precious of possessions—love of neighbor.

“You must love your neighbor as yourself.”—Matthew 22:39

Whether done by ten-year-old children in a schoolyard, or by adults in organized campaigns of psychological attacks, bullying is bullying! I found an article that offered children tips on coping with bullys. However, they can apply just as well to adult victims of directed energy weapons torture and community policing based gang-stalking. The excerpt is posted below. I hope you find it useful!

Help for the Victims

Victims of bullying, particularly the young, face a difficult challenge—that of maintaining balance under pressure. When someone bullies you, he is probably eager to throw you off balance emotionally. He is hoping that you will resort to extremes of anger or show terror. If you fly into a fit of rage or burst into tears and express hurt or fear, the bully is getting what he wants. So he may try to provoke the same reaction again and again.

What can you do? Consider the following suggestions. They are written primarily with the young in mind, but the principles may also apply to adults dealing with bullies.

▪ Keep cool. Don’t give in to rage. The Bible wisely advises: “Let anger alone and leave rage.” (Psalm 37:8) When your temper is out of control, you give the bully power over you, and you are likely to do things you will only regret.—Proverbs 25:28.

▪ Try to put thoughts of revenge out of your mind. Vengeance often backfires. At any rate, revenge is not really satisfying. One girl, who was beaten up by five youths when she was 16 years old, recalls: “I decided in my heart, ‘I will get even with them.’ So I got some help from my friends and took revenge on two of my attackers.” The result? “I was left with an empty feeling,” she says. And her own conduct worsened afterward. Remember the Bible’s wise words: “Return evil for evil to no one.”—Romans 12:17.

▪ When things appear to be getting heated, get away quickly. The Bible says: “Before the quarrel has burst forth, take your leave.” (Proverbs 17:14) In general, try to steer clear of those who tend to bully. Says Proverbs 22:3: “Shrewd is the one that has seen the calamity and proceeds to conceal himself, but the inexperienced have passed along and must suffer the penalty.”

▪ If bullying persists, you may need to speak up for yourself. Choose a moment when you are calm, look the bully in the eye, and speak in a firm, level voice. Tell him that you don’t like what he is doing—that it is not funny and that it hurts. Do not resort to insults or challenges.—Proverbs 15:1.

▪ Talk to a responsible, caring adult about the bullying. Be specific about the problem, and ask for help in handling it. Do the same in your prayers to God, and this can be a wonderful source of help and comfort.—1 Thessalonians 5:17.

▪ Remember that you have value as a person. The bully might want you to think that you don’t matter, that you deserve to be treated badly. But he is not your judge. God is, and he looks for the good in each of us. It is the bully who becomes less worthwhile by resorting to such conduct.

One of the most amazing displays of physical control was furnished by Charles Blondin in the latter half of the 19th century. He crossed Niagara Falls a number of times, first in 1859, on a tightrope 1,100 feet long and 160 feet above the water. After that, he did so each time with a different display of his ability: blindfolded, in a sack, trundling a wheelbarrow, on stilts, and carrying a man on his back. To maintain such balance required extremely great physical self-control. Due to the achievements his superb physical control made possible, Blondin was rewarded with both fame and fortune.

As any victim of government sponsored directed energy weapons torture and psychological attacks (including community policing based “gang-stalking”) is well aware, one of the greatest challenges we face is maintaining self control. The daily barrage of humiliating actions we undergo are designed to provoke us, luring us into self-destructive behavior. However, like a skilled tightrope walker, we must cultivate self-control. Indeed, our very survival is dependent on staying in firm control of our emotions and actions. That can be a challenge, as the desire to retaliate in some way may at times seem overpowering. To counter such ill-advised thinking, we may need to adjust our attitude and view self-control as the superior response, a facet of our true inner strength.

Sadly, popular entertainment glorifies the “hero” that answers all provocation and ill treatment with an outburst of violence, vanquishing his enemies as the admiring audience cheers him on. Unlike movie violence, real-life retaliation often carries severe, life changing penalties and losses. The person who keeps himself under control is better equipped to make decisions that are in his best long-term interests. Those who lose control of their emotions, giving in to anger, often live to regret the outcome of their actions.

Do you see self-control as your strength? Not merely control of your actions. This includes controlling your emotions as well. Unless we highly value the ability to rein in our emotions, we will develop grudges and bitterness which lead to outbursts of anger. We will also damage our health, and healthy relationships, compounding the effects of the psychological attacks we undergo.

“By over-responding to conflict and not trusting others, hostile people might also be at risk because they don’t benefit physiologically from their social relationships; People most prone to anger were almost three times more likely to have a heart attack than those with low anger in a recent study of 12,986 participants…” - Angry Thoughts, At-Risk Hearts, Monitor on Psychology (American Psychological Association)

In view of the foregoing, it is vital that we divest ourselves of the perverse admiration of “good guy” violence and retaliation often seen in movies, and see the tremendous benefits that developing self-control can bring us. Such self-control is a measure of true masculinity and emotional maturity, that will contribute to greater success in all facets of life.

For a skilled tightrope walker like Charles Blondin, a loss of self-control while performing could have meant great physical harm or even death. Is it really any different for us as victims of psychological warfare? When we highly value and cultivate self-control, we protect our health, and may well preserve our lives. Therefore, view self-control as your strength!

“He that is slow to anger is better than a mighty man - Proverbs 16:32