You may have noticed that we鈥檙e in an election season. I haven鈥檛 been able to escape it because I am married to a candidate, in fact I have seen more politics in the past couple weeks than I have seen in a very long time, and repeatedly on Social Media, I realize the wisdom of the parody of what is known as 鈥楾he Serenity prayer鈥� 鈥� it goes 鈥淕od give me the serenity not to read the comments, Courage not to read the comments, and the Wisdom not to read the comments
The most innocuous statement by a Candidate (from any party), such as 鈥淚鈥檓 running for election, because I hope for a sa国际传媒 which is better for all鈥� can be met with vitriol and hatred and a bitter rant about whatever issue the writer (commonly known as 鈥楾rolls鈥�) is angry about.听
I understand that people are often rightly angry about what is happening in our Province, Country, and world. Our climate crisis, ongoing pandemic, economic and social worries, wildfires, the state of the world around 鈥� all these things add to our anxiety and can make us 鈥榣ash out鈥�. But I think of the words of the writer of the letter to the Ephesian Church in the Bible who says 鈥淏e angry, but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger.鈥� (Ephesians Chapter 4 verse 26) and I believe what they are saying is that feeling angry is something we do, that we need to do, but to hold onto anger is destructive, for ourselves and for our relationships.听
In Christian tradition 鈥榮in鈥� isn鈥檛 naughty things we do, or about individuals being wicked or bad 鈥� it鈥檚 about brokenness; sin is anything which breaks down relationships, hurts people, causes damage. Being angry can be a natural reaction to what is wrong but being an angry person and holding on to anger is something that hurts us and those around us.听
The example of Jesus shows us anger is an appropriate response to some things: seeing the injustice and mistreatment of the poor in the Temple Courts in Jerusalem he turned over the tables and drove the traders and moneylenders out. When religious leaders cared more about the rules of their religion than about having compassion on the people, he referred to them a 鈥渂rood of vipers.鈥� His teaching was passionate 鈥� but never tried to tear people down or attack them for who they were, it criticized their actions and attitudes instead.听
What inspired Jesus, and I believe inspires any who deeply connect with God, was love and compassion. Compassion means 鈥榯o feel with鈥� 鈥� to share the feelings of others, recognizing the effect that our words and actions have on them, and the struggles they may be going through. In modern terms this is often referred to as 鈥淭rauma Informed Practice鈥�.
I believe the choice to love is a spiritual discipline. It takes work, it involves choosing and learning to choose how we respond to people and to situations. Love is not, as I鈥檝e said before, a soft and fluffy feeling, but a decision to want and work for the best for other people as well as ourselves. When as Christian I share that 鈥淕od is love.鈥� I believe that commits me to taking loving action, and making change for the better, in myself, and the world around. It commits me to justice, equity, inclusion, and care for the world and for its people. Bruce Cockburn wrote, 鈥淥 love, which fires the sun, keep me burning,鈥� may love fuel our actions and our words in all we do.听
The Ven. Alastair Singh-McCollum听is Rector of St. John the Divine Anglican Church in Victoria and听Archdeacon, Diocese of Islands and Inlets.听He has a passion for the Gospel, motorbikes and bike culture, worship, philosophy, theology, guitars, single malt whisky, real ale, cinema and all things French.听You can find Alastair at the听church website:听听补苍诲听on his blog:听fracme.blogspot.ca
You can read more articles on our interfaith blog, Spiritually Speaking, HERE
* This article was published in the print edition of the sa国际传媒 on Saturday, August 28th 2021
Photo by听听辞苍听
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