“Road rage” has become a part of our vocabulary. According to a study by the travel site Expedia, the three most rage-inducing behaviors are: (1) Slow drivers who won’t move out of the left lane. (2) Tailgaters. (3) People who text while driving.
We live in what seems to be such an angry generation. We get angry at other drivers. At sports teams. At family members. At co-workers. At our neighbors. At commentators on television. Especially at referees who miss huge calls.
A recent article in The New York Times pointed out, “One in six Americans has stopped talking to a family member or close friend because of the 2016 election.” (March 2, 2019)
WebMD included this about anger: “The way you handle your anger can make a difference to your heart.” A cardiologist from Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta was quoted, “If you have a destructive reaction to anger, you are more likely to have heart attacks.” Wow. Is that a clear warning or what?
It’s a real danger for us. It is so easy for us to be consumed with anger and contempt. But it really comes at a great cost. In the Old Testament, the psalmist wrote, “Refrain from anger, and turn from wrath; do not fret. It leads only to evil.” (Psalm 37:8)
The writer of Proverbs declared, “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise person keeps himself under control.” (Proverbs 29:11) Wise words from the wisest of books.