Woodpeckers, Rocks, and Dirt Clods

Jim Taylor in “Currents” tells the following story about his friend, Ralph Milton. “One morning Ralph woke up at five o’clock to a noise that sounded like someone repairing boilers on his roof. Still in his pajamas, he went into the back yard to investigate. He found a woodpecker on the TV antenna, pounding its little brains out on the metal pole. Angry at the little creature that ruined his sleep, Ralph picked up a rock and threw it. The rock sailed over the house, and he heard a distant crash as it hit the car. In utter disgust, Ralph took a vicious kick at a clod of dirt, only to remember, too late, that he was still in his bare feet!” Uncontrolled anger becomes sin and separates us from the fullness of God’s Spirit. Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. (Ephesians 4:24-26 ESV). There are examples of Jesus getting angry, but never did He sin in His anger. Jesus went into the synagogue on the Sabbath and saw a man with a crippled hand. He knew that the Pharisees were watching to see what he would do, and he felt angry that they were only out to put him in the wrong. They did not care for the handicapped man, nor did they want to see the power and love of God brought to bear on him. There were other instances where Jesus showed anger. Jesus showed anger again when the disciples tried to send away the mothers and their children. He was indignant and distressed at the way the disciples were thwarting His loving purposes and giving the impression that he did not have time for ordinary people. He showed anger once more when he drove out those who sold and those who bought in the temple. God’s house of prayer was being made into a den of thieves and God was not being glorified. Commenting on this, Warfield wrote: “A man who cannot be angry, cannot be merciful.” The key is found in the Scripture that we have read this morning. Paul said, “don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you.” Frederick Buechner, in Transformed by Thorns, said, “Of the seven deadly sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back is, in many ways, a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.” But how do you deal with the anger appropriately? Some have suggested that “blowing off steam” is the right way to keep your anger under control. A lady once came to Billy Sunday and tried to rationalize her angry outbursts. “There’s nothing wrong with losing my temper,” She said. “I blow up, and then it’s all over.” “So does a shotgun,” Sunday replied, “and look at the damage it leaves behind!” Nor does “stuffing” it inside and denying the realities of it do any good. The only effective means of anger control is that which Jesus practiced. At the cross He looked at those who were the instruments of His cruel death and said, “Father, forgive them.” Forgiveness is the way to freedom from sinful anger. I once read a Hallmark card that said, “Sometimes we have to let go of the past in order to enjoy the present, and be able to dream of the future.” Perhaps there are those things that you need to let go of today. Do it and find the freedom you’ve been searching for in your life.