“Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good.”—Romans 12:21.

I often commute to work during off-peak hours, when trains are lightly traveled. It is quite common for my train car (New Jersey Path train from Newark to Journal Square) to be filled what are colloquially termed “gang stalkers.” These are individuals providing covert psychological attacks and surveillance in the campaign of harassment I have endured for more than 12 years. Today was one of those days when an unanticipated act of provocation could have led to an angry outburst. I will not go into the details of the incident. Like so many I have endured, it was designed to humiliate, and provoke an angered response on my part. Instead, I swallowed the humiliation of the moment, refused to allow anger to rise within me, and walked away. Who knows what the consequences would have been had I responded in the heat of anger! Rather than do the “macho” thing, I followed the counsel of my exemplar, Jesus Christ. I conquered.

Refusing to become angry meant keeping the situation, and myself under control. “. . . Because a live dog is better off than a dead lion . . .”—Ecclesiastes 9:4 That proverb means that calmly enduring any momentary humiliation is far better than suffering the consequences of a lost temper. Truthfully, if we are caught off guard, we do have the tendency to act on impulse. However, if we learn to walk away from provocation in small events that occur from day to day, it will be our impulse to do so when such an unexpected encounter tests us.

I rejoiced after that incident, knowing that applying practical wisdom had given me the victory. I had also maintained a clean conscience, and acted in a way that pleases my Heavenly Father. Rather than fight, I conquered. I cannot take credit for this wise maneuver. After all, it would be the natural inclination of anyone harassed and tortured for twelve years to strike back. However, my working hard to cultivate the fine qualities taught in the scriptures has been a proven source of protection. You can enjoy the same benefits, by applying the Bible’s matchless counsel to “Return evil for evil to no one. Provide fine things in the sight of all men. If possible, as far as it depends upon YOU, be peaceable with all men. —Romans 12:17

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