ANGER

Anger is an emotion I have wrestled with, thought about, and discussed with other men. Anger is defined as “a strong feeling of displeasure.”

I believe there is righteous anger. I am not sure I have ever seen it. I have read about it played out in the Bible.

I am sure there is a God and I am not him so I do not remotely have to know much of anything for sure except Christ crucified and resurrected. One piece of knowledge though: I doubt I have ever practiced righteous anger or behaved without sin when acting out my anger.

Rage is defined as a “violent and uncontrolled anger.” I have experience guilt and shame after practicing rage.

I am currently thinking about whether when I act out anger against someone else am I really angry with myself for one or more of my own failings? Now when I feel a strong displeasure I ask myself, “I am angry about a weakness of mine?”

One habit of thinking I avoid of mine is settling on two extremes. For instance, I trust there are infinite possibilities between the extremes of righteous anger and sinful rage.

If there are infinite possibilities between these two extremes then I am never able to think through all of the possibilities similar to I am never, during my lifetime, able to work through all of my weaknesses. My inabilities in these two areas, as examples, make me conclude they are added to the stockpile of mysteries.

I simply trust in God to play mysteries out in my life. I obey, with the help of the Holy Spirit, not to worry. I bask in the grace of Jesus’ forgiveness.

My next entry I will write about how the John’s Gospel may provide insight on how Jesus behaved while angry. After all, He is the only true, perfect example.