Self-Forgiveness: Control, Use and Value of Anger

IT’S THE ABILITY TO ‘TURN-IN’ ANGER, not on itself, but to absorb it within—in a way I can only call “faith”—that is crux of self-forgiveness unto the forgiveness of others—the final, gorgeous corrective to abrasive anger. We can only tolerate others if we first tolerate ourselves, as loving others is reliant on adequate and potent self-love. Self-toleration is the key and catalyst.

This, of all things, is probably the hardest living thing to do. But, indeed, possible!

It goes against itself as a way of being so incredibly for itself—my-self/yourself. It’s entirely paradoxical and so untenable—until that is, it’s tried.

When we finally arrange ourselves in such a suffuse way as to wrangle positively with our anger, due the item of self-forgiveness—God’s grace generously self-bestowed—we are then ready for a ‘gorgeous torment’ that should completely anger us but absolutely doesn’t.

It operates as surrender does this anger. Turning-in the emotions within the self we gain a spiritual power that’s unparalleled. We find nothing—in this mood—can get us down or trap us. We feel invincible in the tradition of Romans 8:37. This truly is the Christian experience, though sadly most Christians don’t actually ever experience it!

(Even sadder, finding this ‘deeper magic’ often requires of us to sink to such a depth—there, we finally grasp God.)

Generating joy from otherwise angering stimuli is a totally endearing concept that truly anyone can engage in. But it’s only when “they” realise it’s the person of Jesus Christ they must deal with, some baulk. Christ, the stumbling block. Laughable I know! (If it wasn’t so sad!) Others just get the ‘Jesus message’ all wrong. They don’t appear to be able to understand their Bibles, particularly on matters of persecution/response and the like.

A love so great in the world that it could never harm nor be harmed. That is the state of Christ-likeness we’re to strive for and attain.

Truly, anger and forgiveness have much in common and their threads, interwoven, are inseparable.

© 2010 S. J. Wickham.