Canyons – Shelter Or Anger? … Good morning Hump Day readers. I hope your mid-week has been great and stays right up to the weekend–sounds so good doesn’t it–ah—a balmy week in Arizona! Not so much anywhere else–many states are taking a hard-ball-swing with atmospheric rivers, ice storms, snow over 5 ft and if that’s not enough, pouring rain and winds that may turn into tornadoes.

I don’t want to dive into a prickly conversation in regards to climate change but those who do study our weather know more than we do and the changes have now become deadly. The atmospheric river going through Oregon, Washington and into Montana is going to be very devastating not just for homes but the National and State parks; so please seek shelter.

For me living in Arizona, the top place I love is the Grand Canyon! I never tire of going there, especially the North Rim (less people). When we’re there, we walk some of the rim paths and my mind starts thinking, “what formed this incredible place?” I know it was God but did it take years and years or did God speak it into its being? We know that water is a huge part of how drips turn into crevasses, opening more places for streams, and geology that has never been seen before. There is one path that you can go under an out-cropping and which has drips–constantly. I like to listen but not for long because I get wet and it becomes annoying! And, as usual, it doesn’t take long for thunder and lightning and now you are angry at yourself for not leaving early and you are definitely going to be slopping wet!

And this short ‘drip-story’ brings me to how easily our anger builds up. Like the roaring Colorado River raging through the Grand Canyon, our minds do the same thing. The drip-drip-drip grabs our anger quotient and the beauty we went to see begins to be a pressure cooker in our heads, let alone the pouring rain and the slippery paths which have very few places for shelter…grrrr—now you are angry to the bone, gushing like a fire hydrant!

Anger has become a major problem in our society. Friends of mine who are teachers tell me that the anger—from kids and parents, is frightening and some teachers can get hurt with this anger and rage. One of my friends bolted herself in a closet because one 12-year-old-boy came after her with fists! It traumatized her to the point of leaving her vocation of 27 years. The parents’ reaction? They said “he’s just a young kid, get over it.” Sadly, that young kid ended his own life after shooting his friend while playing baseball–not at school.

Anger reminds me of the Grand Canyon’s drip-drip and how the build-up comes and we blow. How many times have we said “Don’t tell me what to do” or “You don’t know me and you don’t know what I can do to you” – yep, this is a common push-back to people, from kids to adults, you can see it on all kinds of social media. It truly makes my blood run cold.

Scripture has over 500 warnings about anger, who are two: “Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper–it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.” -Psalm 37:8-9 [NLT]  “Don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” -Ephesians 4:26-27 [NLT]

In closing, I share with you what Al’s uncle told us at our wedding, “love each other and never go to bed angry.” There were a few times we tried but it didn’t last because love is much more powerful than anger. So don’t wait until you spout like a gushing fire-hydrant. Instead, take each of those irritating times as a drip of God’s healing water–God’s shelter for your mind and soul. Give them forgiveness and forgive yourself as well. Do it before your anger digs a canyon that you’ll never be able to control. AMEN.