Shade Tree Wisdom 8/2/08

Humid. I can tell because the eyeglasses fog over when I leave the air conditioned place. August, and they promise more of the same.

The morning paper tells of another senator indicted for selling favors and misusing his office. One wonders whether our government is really there to serve us, or self. And it rouses what, a feeling of contempt, anger, sorrow, disgust. On the subject of anger it recalled to mind a ditty I picked up somewhere. It ran:
“I do not like thee, Dr. Fell.
The reason why I cannot tell.
But this I know, and know full well,
I do not like thee, Dr. Fell.”

It popped up in some class discussion and the professor was wise enough to stop and discuss that thought. He began with this from Psalm 37, 7.8. “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger, and turn from wrath, do not fret, it leads only to evil”. The Message has this, “bridle your anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes, it only makes things worse.”

What does anger do but settle in the gut and cause all kinds of ill feeling and bitterness, and over nothing. The Book of Hebrews is teaching about discipline in chapter 12, then he writes, "15 Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time." Heb. 12,15. The “root of bitterness” quickly bears terrible fruit.

Proverbs adds several thoughts. 19,19 says, "A hot tempered man must pay the penalty”, and v. 11 says, “A man’s wisdom gives him discretion”. Jesus said, “Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment”. Matt 5,22.

And St. Paul urges the Ephesians (4,16) “In your anger do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry. Don’t give the devil a foothold”. Maybe that’s the best way to end this. “Don’t give the devil a chance”, for he works hard when we fume and fret and gives all kinds of reasons why we are justified. And remember, we never are justified, for “love shall cover the multitude of sins”.

GPD 8/2/08