John Climacus on Anger
These words from St. John Climacus really cut me to the quick in my devotional reading this morning. I pray they work upon you as well, that you might repent of your sin and trust in Christ's blood and righteousness as the cure for sin and death.
Anger is a dislike hatched from the memory of offenses received, a desire to hurt the people who have hurt us. The sweet scent of humility, however, makes it disappear, as the darkness scatters when the sun rises.
Some people with a hot temper do not worry about it and ignore the remedies that would heal them. They forget, unfortunately, what is written: "Surely anger kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple." (Job 5:2)
Anger is like the rapid revolution of the mill-wheel. It not only crushes but also scatters more grain than a reaper could do working a whole day.
It is also like an outbreak of fire when the wind is blustery: it scorches and burns up the field of the heart more disastrously than a slow fire would in a longer period.
The hot-tempered individual is like an epidemic: the disease takes him by surprise, shakes him up, flings him to right and left. He needs a great deal of humility because his anger is the result of an over-inflated opinion of himself.
On the other hand, gentleness attains its highest expression when we keep our heart calm in the face of someone who is provoking us, and actually show him our love.
--Ladder of Divine Ascent, 8
So, what is the Angry Gnome to do about it? Repent and trust in Christ and His Blood.
Anger is a dislike hatched from the memory of offenses received, a desire to hurt the people who have hurt us. The sweet scent of humility, however, makes it disappear, as the darkness scatters when the sun rises.
Some people with a hot temper do not worry about it and ignore the remedies that would heal them. They forget, unfortunately, what is written: "Surely anger kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple." (Job 5:2)
Anger is like the rapid revolution of the mill-wheel. It not only crushes but also scatters more grain than a reaper could do working a whole day.
It is also like an outbreak of fire when the wind is blustery: it scorches and burns up the field of the heart more disastrously than a slow fire would in a longer period.
The hot-tempered individual is like an epidemic: the disease takes him by surprise, shakes him up, flings him to right and left. He needs a great deal of humility because his anger is the result of an over-inflated opinion of himself.
On the other hand, gentleness attains its highest expression when we keep our heart calm in the face of someone who is provoking us, and actually show him our love.
--Ladder of Divine Ascent, 8
So, what is the Angry Gnome to do about it? Repent and trust in Christ and His Blood.
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