HELLO, MY NAME IS ANGER!
Within arm’s reach is a ping-pong-ball-sized red light button. It is your anger button! Press it and anger flows or possibly explodes like a volcano. Just look around us:
- The global world political scene is dominated by anger.
- Nations are ruled by anger.
- Regions, territories, provinces, and states are governed by anger.
- Cities, towns, villages are filled with anger.
- Many homes are controlled by anger.
Why is this? Because individual human beings are angry. While anger is the most used tool, it is the least effective tool in our Life Skills toolbox. Why is anger the “go-to” tool people use to solve problems? The answer is quite simple. Anger appears to work. Anger is effective… for a while, in the short term but not the longer term.
However, there is one dangerous quality anger has: It grows. Angry people become angrier. To solve the same recurring problem, stronger anger must be used. Eventually, anger destroys not builds or encourages.
The author of the Biblical book of James (who was martyred) gives us a way to respond to anger and a reason why. He says, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger never brings about the righteous life God desires.” James 1:19-20.
The answer to anger here is to adjust our speed of listening and speaking. it is a choice. Briefly, anger may give us the feeling we are in control; but in the long run, we will lose our integrity, self-control, and others’ trust. it also reveals we are not trusting our loving, all-good Heavenly Father and His superior control. Anger does not work!
