So the real question is:
At what price peace of mind?
Is our serenity worth losing over slow service, waiting on hold, a
poor lane change, parking ticket, an inconsequential bump, the blocking
of a sidewalk, some failed expectation, hurt feeling or news report?
Recently a man lost his life leaving a baseball game over a verbal
slight on the ramp leading to the exit, a “trifle” in hindsight, a
tragedy for all concerned in reality. Revenge, getting even, wishing to
punish others, resentment and condemnation under any guise are all
dangerous paths leading only to strife and suffering, blocking us from
the source.
So we must become slow to anger, to ask if the cause is “just” in
spiritual light. When we do this, we soon find the just causes of anger
are few indeed. Consider law enforcement; over ninety percent of the
officers will
never remove their weapon from its holster except at the firing range,
but if circumstances warrant they can and will employ deadly force, with
all the attendant consequences the decision carries. So just as with
those charged with enforcing secular law, if presented
with “just” cause we must be willing to act, but we must direct our
anger at the sin, praying for the sinner and those affected by the act,
seeking ways to be of service to all who suffer.
It would be taking the easy way out to end this piece without
attempting to describe a “just” cause of anger. Just cause can be
somewhat personal, but I think there are some we can agree on: Any
innocent’s death at the hand of a tyrant, for profit or as a result of
an alcohol or drug impaired individual. A child exploited for any
reason. A companies or corporations callus disregard of health and/or
safety concerns for the sake of profit. Leaders who only are concerned
for themselves and not those they have been charged to represent.
Chances are, unlike law enforcement, in most cases we will be powerless to act
directly in any secular sense, save perhaps the ballot box but we can always act spiritually,
keeping our anger in check, focusing on the solution rather than the
cause.
So on those occasions when just cause enters our consciousness we
must immediately turn to God seeking guidance and intuition, the correct
course of action, for if we
choose to take matters into our own hands we place ourselves in danger.
If we fail to seek God first, it becomes revenge and when seeking
revenge we begin by first digging two graves.
© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved
The Secret,
Wayne Dyer, ACIM, Serenity, Planned Parenthood, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy,
Golden Key, Pope Francis, Chopra, Jesus, Healing Path Recovery, Einstein,
Marianne Williamson, Sayeh Beheshti, AKUA
