WHAT DO WE DO WHEN THEY MAKE US ANGRY?

Others can provoke anger in one and anger wells up...

However, how we act thereafter is what is important. Do we act based on the feelings of anger? Do we let the anger calm down before we say or do anything? Do we react based on the anger emotion or do we respond with a clear mind after the anger has calmed?

When a person acts whilst under the influence of anger, then the person acts without protection as the physically invisible helpers stand aside leaving the person alone. Such a person can then be used by the darkness and after the anger-based deed has been done then as the saying goes: the eyes will now be clear. This is because the anger has beclouded all clear thinking, leading to unedifying words and wicked actions.

Between the time the anger wells up and the anger-based words and action, there is a small space. We can use that small space to decide not to act based on the anger but to delay all actions till when the anger has cooled. Then one is more able to respond properly rather than reacting emotionally.

We will succeed if beforehand we have decided fully to do only what is good. The firm decision to think, say and do only what is good has the effect of helping us maintain our poise when we are provoked. Even when we are squeezed, only the good will come out because that is all we have inside of us!

 

 

DEALING WITH OUR WEAKNESSES

Who can claim that he has overcome all weaknesses? How are we to react to temptations? Somebody once said he can resist everything except temptation. I have watched a film actor saying something like... the best way to overcome temptation is to fall for it!

Definitely we do not want to be in such deplorable conditions. Some may also think themselves already good because their circumstances have not permitted them to exhibit their inner weaknesses. They look down on those who make mistakes but who may have acted inadvertently without evil intentions.

In all seriousness, what we need to deal with are our propensities. Those deep-rooted characteristics of ours that have more or less formed how we behave. These can be greed, and its cousin covetousness. It can be sordid sensuality the lust to steal and all such things. Until these propensities leave us, we are not free from them - even if we have not been able to act out such deep immoral desires.

A step ahead can be found in developing a moral shyness to all of these weaknesses. As for temptations, we must not give approval to which temptations can cling. We will have to keep the basis of our thoughts pure. We need to watch all the thoughts assailing us, give room only for the noble, beautiful and true, then pray for help from our Maker.

May we attain to victory in this struggle. Amen!

HOW ABOUT JOKES?

Humour is capable of bringing laughter to us and our audience. This is good because cheerful laughter arising from a sincere heart is a great antidote to being weighed down. It makes us feel  light and free.

 

However, we ought to be extremely careful about the types of jokes we share. It calls for engaging our delicate intuition at all times to weigh carefully what we take in as jokes and what we share as humour.

 

We may make witty remarks, crack jokes and make use of instructive anecdotes but then we do not need to use coarse language, malicious remarks and irresponsible words. Neither are we to toy with the Holy Names in the process. For example, it will be most irreverent to share any joke that has to do with the Holy Name of the Lord Almighty and the Name of Jesus. The Holy Names are sacred, should be hallowed and never taken in vain.

 

Furthermore, we ought to be wary of body shaming jokes, jokes employing wicked words, ones that make fun of races, tribes or nations, the ones that promote the war of the sexes and so on.

 

We can employ humour creatively to pass on a serious message, to admonish, to break the ice when we wish to strike up conversation and generally for promoting all that is good. In cases like these, once we choose our words carefully and we give due consideration to the feelings of others we will bring about nothing but peace and happiness!