Thieves And Conflict Management

"If conflict sometimes the best tactic is to allow the force to pass by like a wind or like the water running down the river."
-Jin Kwon

"Martial arts is not about fighting; it's about building character."
-Bo Bennett
 



 

 

I have about two days left before I leave the country, and seem to have run into a snag where I live.

It seems somebody in the house I am at thinks because I am leaving I can be preyed upon. In the last four days I have had a variety of things stolen from me, one pretty ballsy while I slept in the form of money. Today it was something I do not even use anymore, a vaporizer e-cig, and at this point I can't tell if its just somebody being petty, or somebody actively trying to hurt me before I leave.

Considering I will receive a large paycheck tomorrow and need to keep that and my identification documents such as my passport and photo I.D. safe, I think I am within my right to protect myself from others. If any of that is taken I could be in dire straits concerning my move to the middle east.

So this poses the question to me of what a martial artist is to do when confronted by a thief or somebody preying on them.

I suppose I could be combative, and I am within my right to be angry, and believe me, I am. But lashing out against everyone, since I do not know who the culprit is, would be completely wrong. Other people are just bystanders in this situation, but unfortunately, when you do not know who is stealing, everyone falls under suspicion. Considering all of them have been relatively kind to me since this occurred, it just goes to show that trusting others should be done with care.

After all, the thief has taken what is mine, and then given me condolences concerning the matter.

I am not one who forgives very easily, either. Especially when the transgressions are still occurring. Maybe down the road when I have put distance between myself and the situation, but when I feel actively threatened, that option is just not readily available.

So I have decided to stay with friends I can actually trust, as opposed to the current people I have spent the last two weeks with. I suppose in a sense it is running, but to me it is more akin when somebody is trying to fight over nothing, and you walk away.

Yes, we are fighters, warriors even when practicing truly, but sometimes it takes the bigger man to not to fight. Ego is not worth causing issues in our own lives.

Let's say I start a fist fight over this, even if I did find out who did it. Ignoring the legal issues which would ensue, how can I claim any kind of sound victory, morally speaking, if I resorted to violence to solve my problems? A martial artist is someone who not only knows law to a degree, but lives a moral existence.

There is no victory in resorting to conflict when no one's life is in danger. Sure my potential new lifestyle is at risk, but that's not the same thing as the very essence of my being at jeopardy.

And what would I attain if I resorted to physicality? I certainly wont get my property back. The money has already been spent, and chances are the other items are irretrievable, and who would want something back someone has literally put their mouth on?

This series of events over the last five days have brought a quote to mind;

"Do not strike others, and do not allow others to strike you. The goal is peace without incident."

-Chojun Miyagi.

By leaving this I am accomplishing this; I can protect myself going forward, as well as remove myself from further situations.

So, I will take what I do still have, and leave. That seems the most sound solution. I risk nothing with that, and as a plus, get to spend my last few days in the United States with people I hold dear, most likely having a great time. Instead of spending it stewing in my own negative energy of anger. I would rather leave the country on good terms, not one that makes me want to turn my back on people.

 

 

 

"Integrity is not old school, it applies today like it ever did."

-Richard Norton