Transmuted Anger

She sat crossed arm, pouting and petulant. Her face furrowed, and her rosy lips thinned as she huffed and puffed her frustration. The

object of her desire had been denied her and she was livid. She scooted her little form 180 degrees so that her back was facing her antagonist. She had just turned four years old that day, and in all the wisdom of her 48 months she knew that she was mad, and that mum was the cause! Like most four-year old girls she quickly moved past her anger, and a few moments later she was on her mother’s lap finishing their craft activity together.

Even as adults we all go through days like that don’t we? Unlike Hannah we don’t go back to our source of heavenly comfort as quickly. Instead we fuel our life with anger. Untamed anger can of course carbon vesuvian proportions of energy, but it is temporary, and usually very destructive.

Mahatma Gandhi during his stout-hearted struggle against the British for Indian Independence made the following statement:

“I have learnt through bitter experience the one supreme lesson to conserve my anger, and as heat conserved is transmuted into energy, even so our anger controlled can be transmuted into a power that can move the world.” (Young India journal, September 1920.)

His statement espouses principles we would all do well to emulate. Lets shine brightly with transforming influence rather than burning up with destructive anger. Lets move from heat to light.

Matt 5:16 (ESV)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.