When I think about anger, initially I think of an emotion with a bad connotation. I don’t believe I experienced this real emotion until I was in my 30’s and a mother. Up to that point, I had never felt that sense of boiling begin inside your belly and eventually welling up all the way into your head. Know what I mean? Been there? Surely, this was a bad thing, so I thought. But was it or is it always?
Through listening to various teachers and speakers over the years, I have learned that anger isn’t all bad. One person said, “Anger can be love’s clearest voice.” And I have learned in recent years that anger can move mountains. And if they’re ones that need to be moved, perhaps this is anger directed appropriately.
I have a very long fuse but have discovered that once that fuse is gone, an explosion awaits on the end. Now, for many people, the explosion I have would be nothing more than annoying. I tend to raise my voice a bit which gets a little screechy, and repeat myself as many times as necessary until I feel the individual understands my point. Notice I say “when I feel” – not when they actually do. Well, this is what I did last week. And I don’t believe that I moved any mountains, at least not yet. I simply tried to get my point across. So just suppose that my little burst of anger will eventually cause a certain situation or process to change – a mountain – will I then be justified? For now, bursting into someone’s office with others present in an attempt to make my point, barely falling short of uttering a four-letter word – well, perhaps I am still learning (as Pastor Ray would say) to walk like the child of God that I am. So I will get up and try again.
In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Psalm 4:4
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