Phone/Fax: (08) 98 418 418
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Phone/Fax: (08) 98 418 418 |
| The Latest Rage |
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Friends, it appears to be the rage right now: rage, that is. It comes in all varieties - road rage, grocery
shop rage, plane rage, youth sports rages, restaurant rage, standing-in-line rage, can’t-get-in rage, etc.
In fact, there seems to be no end of short tempers and bad manners on public display these days.
Just think about the sports pages of your newspaper. Poor sportsmanship and anger literally “grab your attention” rather than scores or highlights. The fiercest action is in the grand stands. A Perth mother slaps the mother of a girl on the winning basketball team at the end of a game. A football player breaks an umpire’s jaw after a disputed decision. And, in January 2002, hockey father Thomas Junta was sentenced to at least six years jail for beating to death another parent. The dead man had been supervising a non-contact game of ice hockey for 10-12 year-old boys, including two of his sons and Junta’s son. All sorts of explanations are offered for this epidemic of anger. Social scientists blame stress, high expectations, and multi-tasking. However, the truth is, this isn’t merely a psychological problem. It’s a moral issue that reflects a lack of virtue called self-control. It is a lack of respect for other people and reflects the childish sentiment some never outgrow that everything must happen my way. Friends, if Jesus taught his disciples to suffer persecution for the gospel without retaliating and to turn the other cheek to personal insults, what implications do you think his teachings have for getting cut off in traffic or an umpire’s bad decision? The late Henri Nouwen told the story of John and Sandy. “We’ve never had an argument;” said John, “let’s have a squabble like other people have.” “But how do we start an argument?” asked Sandy “It’s very simple,” replied John, “I take a brick and say, ‘It’s mine,’ and then you say, ‘No, it’s mine.’ And then we have an argument.” So they sat down to find out what quarrelling was like, and John took a brick and said, “This brick is mine.” Sandy looked over at him gently and said, “Well, if it is yours, take it.” As you think about the story of John and Sandy, perhaps it would be good to ask yourself the question, where did I get the idea that I am entitled to everything I want whenever I want it? Has our materialisitic and narcissistic age so infected us all that no one can do without, wait his or her turn, or lose an athletic contest? Do others have rights? In Romans 12:17-18, the apostle Paul says, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the sight of everybody.” He then went on to say, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Well friends, if any of you are clutching a brick of anger or resentment today, don’t let it fly. Let go! Thank you for taking the time to read this column today. I hope its message might help you to find and enjoy a better life. If you would like to write to me with your comments or questions, I’d be pleased to hear from you. Email me or write to me at P.O Box 1540, Albany W.A 6331. Telephone / Fax (08) 98 418 418 |
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