Anger From The Inside Out… Hello Hump Day readers. Here we are in the middle of the week and I can honestly tell you I’m angry! First, we have so much wind that Wi-Fi is almost nil—including the registration booth whose computer is anything but helpful! And yes, campers get angry when it is windy, cold, raining…as if we can do anything about it! Actually, it seems as if our whole society is angry about something these days!

We all have experienced anger. Here’s a latest poll from the Pew Research Center: “The cardinal rule used to be if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all, but every time we scroll on social media there’s a new viral video of people arguing, complaining, or throwing punches. So why is everyone so angry? Our poll taken just before the pandemic had 84% of Americans who were angrier than a generation before and 42% admitted that they themselves were angrier. Our latest poll in February 2025-not so good. The anger ramped up to over 90%!” Wow, we have a problem don’t we? I have a great story about anger that I think you all might enjoy and learn from.

Several years ago during the NBA playoffs, Phil Chenier (Washington Bullets), came up behind Walt Frazier and punched him square in the face. The crowd roared demanding to take Chenier out of the game but something strange happened. Frazier was called for the foul, not the other player and the roar went up higher and higher, the crowd was in a frenzied anger. But Frazier didn’t complain. He simply called for the ball and sank seven great shots to win the game for his team. One of the “talking heads commentators” asked him why he didn’t get angry. The response was “it isn’t worth it, anger just makes you become more like the ones who hurt you, so I don’t do that.” Surprised by such words, the commentator had no words to say back.

Anger can be helpful only if it is channeled in the right direction. Sadly, most of the time our anger is destructive. Here’s a good analogy: It is a scientific fact that rattlesnakes will sometimes become so angry if they are cornered, they will actually bite themselves! Sounds crazy but it is true and for us, we can get caught in that same angry trap! If we continue with resentment, we are harboring anger and we will sooner or later bite ourselves! We forget that when we do this, we are allowing the person in this situation to continue to control us. This isn’t a good win-win for both parties!

So what should we do in these contentious and angry times? We must learn to use anger in a way that honors God, then we’ve taken what the enemy may have intended for evil and used it for good. In Romans 12:29-30 [voice] the Apostle Paul says this about anger: “Again, my loved ones, do not seek revenge; instead, allow God’s wrath to make sure justice is served. Turn it over to Him. For the Scriptures say, “Revenge is Mine. I will settle all scores. But consider this bit of wisdom: ‘If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink; because if you treat him kindly, it will be like heaping hot coals on top of his head.’ Never let evil get the best of you; instead, overpower evil with the good.”

In closing, there is one thing to always remember, anger comes from the inside out and it will destroy you. When anger bubbles up, build a resolve to not get caught up in the muck; instead pray for the person, ask God to help you build up a love for those enemies because it can change yours and their lives! And always—always take your anger and turn it into fuel for a walk with God—it will be a healthy path for you and others. AMEN.