Naming the Desire for Vengeance

November 13, 2026•1 min read

“Grief can speak honestly about vengeance without being given command of the sword.”

Scrolls of Reflection 3:26 (Courage)

Katsuro struggles with grief and anger after Takashi’s death. He admits that his desire for justice is accompanied by a desire for vengeance. The admission makes the conflict within him visible before he addresses the samurai.

Naming an impulse is different from surrendering judgment to it. Honest reflection can expose the point where pain begins asking for permission to harm. The scene gives restraint a human cost: Katsuro does not arrive at the question untouched by sorrow. His discipline has to work within that sorrow, where a satisfying reaction may be less worthy than a considered response.

When hurt makes retaliation attractive, give yourself space to name the feeling privately and seek wise counsel. Consider what accountability would require without adding punishment merely to relieve anger.

Reflection question: How can you honor pain without letting it choose your response?

Discover The Trials of Courage, Book Three of The Chronicles of the Sacred Kingdom by D. Scott Lofthouse.

D.Scott Lofthouse

D. Scott Lofthouse has lived a life defined by service — as a law enforcement officer, military veteran, educator, and author. His journey from the streets of Anchorage to the quiet mountains of Utah reflects both discipline and faith, courage and reflection. He began his career in 1986 with the U.S. Air Force, serving in Belgium, Guam, and Alaska as a Law Enforcement Specialist and Investigator before joining the Anchorage Police Department in 1993. Over the next two decades, he became Alaska’s foremost authority on gang intelligence, serving as the primary Gang Intelligence Officer for the state and working closely with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. His professionalism and leadership earned numerous commendations, including multiple Chief’s Letters of Recognition and a Mayor’s Certificate of Appreciation. A natural teacher, D. Scott also served as an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Charter College and lectured on gang investigations, leadership, and internet safety across the country. His years of service instilled in him a deep understanding of humanity’s dual nature — the constant tension between darkness and light — a theme that lies at the heart of his writing. Now retired from law enforcement, D. Scott lives in Utah, where he continues to write and teach. His fantasy series, The Chronicles of the Sacred Kingdom, beginning with The Trials of Unity, explores the moral and spiritual dimensions of courage, leadership, and redemption. A devoted father and grandfather, he draws daily inspiration from family, faith, and the quiet majesty of the mountains that surround him.

Back to Blog