This morning I was reading The Wisdom of the Enneagram by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson. Learning from this book is part of a sort of sabbatical while I work part time, try not to worry about money, and discern what's next in my ministry. Other parts of the program include spiritual direction, rest, cooking good food for myself and my kid, knitting, watching movies and stuff on television, reading scripture (and trashy novels, I'll admit), doing lectio divina (just on the scripture) and writing. For now the writing is mostly blogging but I'm hoping some poetry will start turning up soon.
Anyway, this morning I found this passage on anger, which turns out to be a good follow-up on my previous post on Holy Anger. Here it is, edited for brevity.
"Anger, in itself, is not a bad thing. It is what arises naturally when there is something around us we do not like or want in our lives. Anger is a way of resisting an attack our integrity, whether physical, moral, or spiritual. Anger, when fully experienced (and not acted out, repressed, or "swallowed"), is instantaneous and short-lived.... When we resist anger or hang on to it (for other strategic reasons of our ego), it perpetuates itself in increasing obsessive thinking, emotional constriction, and physical tension." (page 109)
Huh. So it was not actually good for me to go around feeling angry all day. No wonder I was tired! Next time I practice reading angry psalms I will read the "smite them, oh God" psalms, let the anger pass through me, and then go on with my day. And in case you know about the Enneagram and are wondering what type I am - well I'm not telling... so there.
Anyway, this morning I found this passage on anger, which turns out to be a good follow-up on my previous post on Holy Anger. Here it is, edited for brevity.
"Anger, in itself, is not a bad thing. It is what arises naturally when there is something around us we do not like or want in our lives. Anger is a way of resisting an attack our integrity, whether physical, moral, or spiritual. Anger, when fully experienced (and not acted out, repressed, or "swallowed"), is instantaneous and short-lived.... When we resist anger or hang on to it (for other strategic reasons of our ego), it perpetuates itself in increasing obsessive thinking, emotional constriction, and physical tension." (page 109)
Huh. So it was not actually good for me to go around feeling angry all day. No wonder I was tired! Next time I practice reading angry psalms I will read the "smite them, oh God" psalms, let the anger pass through me, and then go on with my day. And in case you know about the Enneagram and are wondering what type I am - well I'm not telling... so there.
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