Minister’s Hot Takes

Anger

Some people say anger isn't spiritual. I see it differently. Being human is a profoundly spiritual experience, and anger is part of being human.

You could just as easily say that being a tree is a spiritual experience, or an eagle soaring overhead is a spiritual experience. The difference is that human beings have self-awareness. We possess the remarkable capacity to witness our own thoughts, question our reactions, and most importantly, choose our response.

Ernest Holmes reminds us of this gift when he writes, "We cannot live a choiceless life. Every day, every moment, every second, there is choice. We have the right to choose what we wish to experience." SOM 143

Anger may ignite within us, but we still have a choice about what we do with it. We can let it become resentment, blame, retaliation—or we can allow it to become clarity, courage, and compassionate action.

This is the work of a mature spiritual life. Science of Mind teaches that our thoughts are creative and that our experience reflects the consciousness we cultivate. While others may trigger our anger, we are ultimately responsible for what we create from it. The question is never simply, "Who made me angry?" The deeper question is, "What is this anger inviting me to see, heal, or change?"

Anger itself is neither good nor bad. It is energy. It is information. When held in the light of awareness, it can become a sacred force that awakens us to deeper authenticity, wiser choices, and a greater expression of love.

Rev. John W. Adams

Senior Minister | CSLN