May 20

Proverbs of Solomon (Cont) Control of Self - Self-control - Proverbs 25:28, 29:11; Rashness - Proverbs 20:25, 21:5, 25:8, 29:20; Temper and patience - Proverbs 12:16, 14:16-17, 14:29, 15:18, 16:32, 19:11, 19:19, 22:24-25, 29:8, 29:22; Drunkenness and gluttony - Proverbs 20:1, 23:19-21, 23:29-35; Adultery - Proverbs 5:1-23, 6:20-35, 7:1-27, 22:14; Prostitution - Proverbs 23:26-28, 29:3

"Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man,

     do not associate with one easily angered,

or you may learn his ways

     and get yourself ensnared."

Proverbs 22:24-25

Ouch!  That's me.  I'm not proud of it.  And it's hold on me is a mystery.  The moment just takes me and I say things I don't intend to say.  It doesn't turn violent physically.  It's not out and out yelling, just an underlying, simmering anger and frustration.  With what I'm not sure.  Just an underlying tone to my life an annoying buzz that dampens the beauty of the music that surrounds us.    

So what am I angry about?  Not finishing any of the several novels I've started writing?  Not being farther ahead financially?  My evaporating 401(k)?  Aging past middle age (unless I plan to be 100) and still having so much to do undone?  All of the above?  Maybe.  Or perhaps I just grew up seeing things handled in anger.  And I realize if I don't stop the cycle my children are destined to handle things in the same way. 

That's why there's such a strong warning in this proverb.  Anger is hereditary and contagious and possessive.  It gets into your clothes like cigarette smoke and continues to fill your nostrils and those around you long after the last cigarette ember is extinguished.

Strong warning.  "Do not associate with one easily angered...."  We deny fellowship to the heretic and blatantly evil.  Why not the easily angered?  Do I need to be quarantined?  

Lord knows.  Lord help me.