Temper

It rises,
unbidden,
out of character,
a power
not your own,
frightening
in it’s intensity,
utterly
destructive
and yet,
every now and then,
for just the right reason,
entirely
justified.

About this poem

We’re told we are not supposed to get angry, or lose our temper, but I don’t think that is always true. Christ lost his temper in his last week or so on earth, and that perhaps is something we can learn from. He held his temper over and over again for the seriously searching, for the hurting, for sinners even, and only lost his temper at the self righteous, the hypocrites inside his own faith, and those in the faith who would demean God.

Yes, sometimes it’s OK to lose your temper. In fact, sometimes, the right times, it may just be the right thing to do.

The picture was taken just down the road here in West Pawlet, VT.

Tom

About these Lenten Poems

My friend Cathy Benson is on to something. Instead of doing without for Lent, she is doing MORE with a prayer project that is thoughtful and caring.

Giving up something for Lent is a church tradition, not a biblical command. It was designed to get our minds and hearts right as we approach the holy week and Easter. It’s a good spiritual discipline.

But I think a spiritual discipline of doing something more is also a powerful way to prepare our hearts for Easter. The Methodists, through their “Rethink Church” initiative have come up with a photographic way to do this (see below). I am going to add a poem with each image for the lent season to help prepare myself. Feel free to glom on to the idea, visit the blog and read, or share your thoughts and prayers.