Day 18
Can Anger Ever Be a Virtue?
Reflection By: Catherine Smith

Many years ago, I became vengeful toward my immediate supervisor at work. Although I was at fault for many of the problems, this person became the target of my work-related difficulties, and I actually became so angry that I realized I was being vengeful and corrected my thinking, if not my feelings. Anger is a feeling and how one acts or reacts to it determines its merit or lack thereof. In the case of Jesus' anger over the moneychangers in the temple, He, of course, was justified. I was not. In the years since I became angry at my supervisor, I have been less irate. However, there are things that annoy me, and cause me to be irked and resentful.

If you cut me off in traffic, I realize I have done the same thing to others and say a prayer for the perpetrator and me, the victim. But I may be resentful of your getting in my way. Same thing at the mall, when I am walking and you are looking one way, and moving right into me. How dare you! But after all, I am probably in your way as well.

Am I angry for global situations? Yes, I am, if not angry, terrified over global injustices and environmental destruction. Should I be angry? Probably enough so that I do something about: global poverty, war, the drug culture, environmental endangerment, and many other just causes that deserve attention. Should it be anger that drives me to action on behalf of these issues, I believe it would be justified. However, at this point I am concerned enough to write a few letters and make a few moves, but this is not nearly enough.