"Our religions are alike, though, in one respect–neither can make a man happy when he is out of luck." -Mark Twain
Mark Twain loved to make fun of religion. Humankind, he said, "is the only animal that has the True Religion–several of them." Twain couldn't figure out why so many people loved their religion and hated everybody elses – to the point where the globe is covered with the blood of wars fought over differences in religious belief.
Twain must have been amused by the ritual of Lent, observed for forty days each year. I can imagine the jokes he must have made about promises made and broken, sometimes within minutes of the making.
When I attended the Lenten service Wednesday night at church, I thought about Twain and his railing against hypocrisy.
Most Christians choose to give up a specific thing for Lent. Various kinds of delicious foods are common choices: ice cream, candy, french fries. Dieting is a popular option. Of course, the end of Lent provides a wonderful chance to splurge.
I was thinking of giving up anger for Lent – and for every day thereafter. Anger, and its progeny, including revenge, irritation and bitterness, are never helpful for either the object or the subject. As a dear friend of mine said recently, "Acid corrodes the container." He's right.
To put aside anger, we need to find an alternative. When we are betrayed, anger rises naturally. Sometimes, a better choice is to permit ourselves a time of grieving – sadness for the loss the betrayal has created rather than hatching plans for revenge.
Some Christians love to point to Jesus' attack on the moneylenders in the Temple as an illustration that anger is okay. Injustice can breed a sense of anger. But practical thinking about solving the injustice is far wiser and more effective.
First line caregivers come to understand this. There's no point in responding to an angry patient with more anger. When fatigue and impatience set in, this can be a huge challenge.
But, if someone can tell me a good reason for anger, I'd love to hear it. Of course, anger is not about "reason." It's about letting fear replace Love. I get angry all the time – at bad drivers, at politicians, at people who shout on cellphones, at people who I think have betrayed me, and at myself for giving way to my own anger. Clearly, I'm at risk for quickly becoming one of the hypocrites Twain often skewered.
I'd really like to let go of anger not just for Lent, but for always. I'm likely to stumble soon (which will be especially unseemly now that I've been ordained.) But as Rumi wrote to all of us, "It doesn't matter if you've broken your vow a thousand times, still come, and yet again come."
-Rev. Erie Chapman.
Journal of Sacred Work 
Leave a reply to Barb McT Cancel reply