Anger

One of my favorite Lenten resources is "A Lenten Sourcebook" from Liturgical Training Publications. It provides readings for each day of the Lenten season. Today it provided this reflection from the writings of Etty Hillesum, the young Jewish woman who wrote about conditions in Amsterdam during the German occupation: 


My battles are fought out inside, with my own demons; it is not in my nature to tilt against the savage, cold blooded fanatics who clamouor for our own destruction. I am not afraid of them either, I don't know why; I am so calm it is sometimes as if I were standing on the parapets of the palace of history looking down over far-distant lands.  This bit of history we are experiencing right now is something I know I can stand up to.  I know what is happening and yet my head is clear.  But sometimes I feel as if a layer of ashes were being sprinkled over my heart, as if my face were withering and decaying before my very eyes, and if everything were falling apart in front of me and my heart were letting everything go.  But these are brief moments; then everything falls back into place, my head is clear again and I can once more bear and stand up to this piece of history which is ours. For once you have begun to walk with God, you need only keep on walking with God and all of life becomes one long stroll---such a marvelous feeling. 

May your walk with God be a marvelous stroll; free of anger and fret. Amen.
Pastor Joy