“If you find yourself farther away from God, who moved?”
A dear friend once asked me this after a bible study. It clicked then. It clicks now. In a country that is still recovering, I ask that question now. For me, the answer revolves around two other questions. “Why are we angry? Who do we blame?”
The gestation period continues as we find ways to accept where we as a country are. During this period, it’s important we make ourselves do something. Address our own north star. Find ways to look at ourselves and ask, “what more could we have done?” Some of us may feel we will never recover from the repudiation of the American dream by more than 74 million people; repudiated all we once believed. If we continue to question, we might find an answer. If we do, I think we can deal with the first question—our anger.
Anger is not a good thing, especially if you allow it to eat at you as some people I feel may be doing. It can become a cancer. As we process our concern for our country and its direction, let’s take a moment to breathe. Scream, yell, cry, but get it out. The bible says, “be angry, but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Okay? Full Stop. You have permission.
What angers us?
We cannot measure it on the yardstick of those things we cannot control. If you can’t control it, it will control you. Run you over like a locomotive. If you are unhappy with your job, find another. If you are unhappy with your diet, google a better one. If you are unhappy with the election. Know you are not alone. Find a way to breathe, be yourself and move closer to who you want to be.
As you examine that truth, perhaps you see you’re angry with yourself. Want to blame yourself. Don’t. I’m not a therapist, just a husband, father, retired veteran, and teacher. I’m old. I’ve been angry before and there are a few things I learned. If you find yourself where you don’t want to be, find a better place. If you don’t like the book you are reading or the TV show you are watching, find another book, or change the channel. I’m hoping many people will do that. In the process of handling the anger, find goodness. Find peace. Focus on what you can do and do it.
Many of us were excited about the possibility. We felt things were going to change. We felt America was going to turn the page. I grew up hearing God always answers. For those of us who hang on to that thought, remember the answers you were told. God may say no; may say yes, or maybe say not now, just wait. Impatience is not a virtue of many, definitely not one of mine. In that regard, I say, give God a moment. Move closer to hear God’s voice. Maybe listen to a friend.
So why are we angry? We didn’t get what we wanted. Admit it. It hurts. I know it. It’s okay to be upset but listen to the promise. Joy comes in the morning. Listen to the voice. We’ve been here before. Focus on what binds us. You are not alone. Share your pain, your fear, your hope. Trust me, someone will hear.
Of course, in all this, your discomfort, anger, and fear is not your fault. In that scenario don’t do what many people do. Point fingers! Don’t look for someone to blame. That’s the easiest way out. Blaming allows us to leave the situation; omit a vital part of the truth. And for God's sake don’t blame yourself. There is always something that someone else could have done, should have done, or would have done no matter the situation, especially if they had listened to you. Right? That may be true but grow a pair. At this stage in life have you not learned that the only person who truly has your back is you? God? Yes, but have you talked to God lately? Like I asked, who moved?
So, let’s make it easy. Let’s blame God. No, let’s blame Kamala. While we’re at it, let’s blame Donald.
Here’s an idea. Why blame anyone? Does blaming others solve the situation? I may have been a bit softer as I wrote earlier, right after the election, when I was on my knees. But it’s time to make a stance. Do you want to make a difference, or do you want to continue to wallow in the crap that makes you stink? I don’t think you want that. It’s not who you are. Time to get up off your knees. Keep praying but keep stepping.
Both candidates have alluded to a desire to unite and heal. I think if you put aside your anger, you want the same. Both candidates have invoked a desire to do a better job at listening to the American people. So, let’s do the hard part together. Pick up the pieces of broken friendships, families, and fractured relationships. Find a common ground where we can understand how debilitating anger can be if you let it consume you. Appreciate how blaming others accomplishes nothing. Realizing this, you can take back your power. Grasp how these two questions can kill if you don’t handle them.
Remember, there is always hope. Be resilient and know this too will pass. Joy will come in the morning. Kamala told us it would. In her speech at Howard University, she told us that she had “been intentional about building community and building coalitions, bringing people together from every walk of life and background, united by love of country with enthusiasm and joy in our fight for America's future. And we did it with the knowledge that we all have so much more in common than what separates us.”
We do. Don’t let anger and blame separate us.
“The Man with the Key,” is free, now, and always. Share it.
Thank you and God bless!!!! Your statement is inspiring and truthful!!!