THOUGHTS TO PONDER
When we are angry, our wisdom is blurred and our ability to judge a situation or function appropriately is distorted. Our anger blinds us, and we are more involved with projecting that anger towards others than in seeking help to resolve the struggles within.
Such anger affects our spiritual health and weighs heavily on our heart. Neither Love, compassion, gentleness nor a liberated spirit can exist with anger.
Stay safe. Stay connected.
Blessings and the strength of Love be with you.
Rev. Mary
READING
"A monk decides to meditate alone.
Away from his monastery, he takes a boat and goes to the middle of the lake, closes his eyes and begins to meditate.
After a few hours of unperturbed silence,
he suddenly feels the blow of another boat hitting his. With his eyes still closed, he feels his anger rising and, when he opens his eyes, he is ready to shout at the boatman who dared to disturb his meditation.
But when he opened his eyes, saw that it was an
empty boat, not tied up, floating in the middle of the lake ...
At that moment, the monk achieves self-realization and understands that anger is within him;
it simply needs to hit an external object to provoke it.
After that, whenever he meets someone who irritates or provokes his anger, he remembers;
the other person is just an empty boat.
Anger is inside me. "
– Zen Taoism Buddhism Thich Nhat Hanh Dalai lama
PRAYER
Today has been a restless day, things going wrong in all directions, and my anger rising – at others, at circumstances, at myself. God, you are in the midst of this. I sense your presence prowling like a tiger, pushing me, pursuing me, restless yourself until I change. I trust you enough to give you my anger, my loneliness, my discontent.... You are my support, and I am grateful for your presence which uplifts my soul. May you guide my actions in the name of the Risen One. Amen.
– Ruth Burgess