Drinking the Poison

My heart is heavy as I watch C-SPAN. It is confused as I read FB. It is perplexed as I hear comments in the library and the local businesses. I do not understand.

Why do people continue to be angry? Angry at the government; angry at their neighbors; angry at people they worship with church ... and if they are honest with themselves either angry with God and/or themselves.

Why are we such an angry people? I do not understand, but of this I am sure:

• Anger at another person because they are from a different ideology splits open both sides.

• Anger at another person because they perceive things differently makes all of us blind.

• Anger at another person because they appear coarse roughens all our emotions and bruises all our souls.

Anger, when justifiable, must be demonstrated toward a policy, not a person. Anger must be manifested in a way that causes people to focus on justice toward others, not on the anger itself. In one of the most memorable scenes of Jesus' adult life He provided a model. It is commonly known as the "Cleaning of the Temple". Jesus did not punch the person at the money changers table nor did He assault their character or exchange insults; He overturned the table and removed the person promoting an unjust policy. He did not pout, frown, or whine. He did not stir up a storm of controversy and continue to belabor the point. He moved on.

Immediately after cleansing, the temple Jesus is found healing the blind and the lame (Matthew 21). In Luke 19:47, he left this intense scene to go back to teaching, something He did before and after this memorable moment. Interestingly, scholars discuss this scene (found in all 4 gospels) as happening more than one time, which implies that those driven out let greed drive them back to their tables. Yet Jesus moved on to the work He had to do impacting individuals that were there right then, in that moment. He knew there was work to be done.

Therein lies the lesson for 2018...

There is still work to be done, and anger will distract us at best and destroy us at worst. Jesus understood that. There is work to be done.

My brother and sisters - can we hold each other accountable that we will demonstrate righteous anger toward a policy, not on a person, a party or a class of people? There are bodies and souls that need healing. There is work to be done.

My patriots and partners -- can we help each other move past the anger to the work that we have yet to do? There are chains binding our friends in ignorance that need to be unlocked. There is work to be done. There is work to be done.