I have two new best friends! Chris is a young associate in my bank in their Customer Service department, and the other is Deputy Cooper of the Santa Cruz Sherriff’s Office. I have spoken to each of them almost every day this week, sometimes more than once. I have visited their offices, sent emails, even spoken on the phone at 10:00 at night. As you know we had money stolen from the church last week along with my purse from my office. Chris and Deputy Cooper have been helping me work to rectify the situation. I trust you got a letter or email outlining what happened and the Sessions swift response to secure the campus. In short, we were not using best practices because we had a false sense of security. But that will soon change.
So this is what happened. Sunday after teaching confirmation class I discovered that my purse was not in my office. My purse with my driver’s license, credit cards, cash and phone was stolen. I was shocked, sadden and mad. Angry to have been violated by the theft, angry because I suspected who did it, and angry that this all happened in the church. I was angry at myself that I had not listened to that little voice inside my head prodding me to use more security. That afternoon I canceled cards, credit and debit, worked on getting new ID, and reported the theft, to Deputy Cooper.
Monday morning, we found that $300 had been taken from the church and my anger returns. I have more righteous anger when someone steals from a church, from us, when we are here to help people in Christ’s name. But it was anger all the same.
Tuesday I receive an email alert from my bank saying my account balance was low. I check to find that $5,000 was pilfered from my checking account. They had forged my name and deposited the money in Virginia. I was angry again, not just inconvenienced, but victimized by my bank, for cashing a forged check. That was when I met Chris. He helped me to open a new account. Chris and I had a good laugh when I showed him my old envy phone I was using waiting for a new one. He said that took him back to Junior high. I signed an affidavit, and prayed the money would be returned quickly. Of course, I update the theft report with Deputy Cooper, because this is now a much bigger crime. Session met and we have put some clear steps in place to secure the campus- The one you will notice most, is that the office will be locked during worship. We also encourage you to lock your cars while here, keeping valuables in your trunk. Finally, we ask that you not provide moneys to people begging on this campus. We will continue to help people in need through our many tangible efforts, but not through direct handouts. Thank you to each elder for your strong leadership.
Wednesday arrives with the next surprise- my bank refunded my money very quickly, but they put it in the compromised account. So, a second check for $4,000 was stolen. Now they have taken $9,000! I met with area clergy that afternoon at Surf City to see what was happening with them, as I was telling my story, a woman from Inner Light said they had three cars broken into during worship in the last month. And Watsonville church had vandalism and theft. My anger returned. Not just personal anger, but anger that area churches have become targets. It affects us all ~ thank you.
Before I move on, I am happy to report all the bank funds have been returned to me. Long story but a teaching moment.
How do you handle anger?
Do people avoid you when your angry? Do people know when you are angry?
Or do you keep it hidden? I don’t know about you but somewhere along the line I was taught I am not supposed to get angry. I actually used to joke, “I don’t do anger.” But the very fact that Jesus is teaching about anger means we are to learn how to deal with this vital human emotion. But how do we put anger, our response to anger and God’s word all together?
Our gospel lesson is about anger. Does God have a sense of humor of what? I was Everyone knows that murder is a sin, one of the ten commandments. Jesus is taking that hard and fast rule and saying not only murder but also anger is a sin. That does not mean we deny anger, it means we are responsible for how we respond to it. I had a choice this week, I could have vented my anger on every person I met or I could allow my anger to motivate action to help address the situation. Part of our Christian maturity is learning to own and deal with our anger in constructive ways. And not allowing anger to get the best of us.
A lady once came to pastor Billy Sunday and tried to rationalize her angry outbursts.
“There’s nothing wrong with losing my temper,” she said. “I blow up, and then it’s all over.”
“So does a shotgun,” Sunday replied, “and look at the damage it leaves behind!” (Sermons.com, Billy Sunday)
Jesus echoes that sentiment by teaching reconciliation before we come to God. Jesus holds us to account about our anger and our relationships saying get this handled so you are good with your fellows before you seek communion with God.
Anger is part of us, a valid feeling. But sometimes we hold on to anger or explode with anger and that is what Jesus is addressing. Leo Buscalgia writes of observing two children having an argument. The children were quarreling over some insignificant things.
“You’re stupid!” one said to the other.
“Well, so are you!” the other replied.
“Not as stupid as you!” the first one said.
“Oh, yeah?” the other one said.
“That’s what you think.”
When Buscalgia passed by the playground not more than ten minutes later, these two children were playing together again, having forgotten the whole thing.
“No brooding,
no wounded egos,
no blame,
no dredging up the past,
no recriminations,” Buscalgia writes. There it was, a brief and honest exchange of angry feelings, an even briefer cooling off period, and all was forgiven. “Children are certainly much more forgiving than adults,” Buscalgia concludes. “Somewhere in the process of growing up we seem to have become experts at holding grudges, cradling fragile egos and unforgiving natures” (Leo F. Buscalgia, Born for Love (New York: Slack, Inc., 1992), p. 202). We are responsible for how we handle our anger.
Finally, Paul shares a teaching on anger. He writes, “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger… A few sentences later he writes, “Let all bitterness, wrath and anger be put away from you” (Eph. 4:26,31). Here in lies the push and pull. We want to be far from anger and sin, we don’t want it in our lives. We want to be happy and blameless as the psalmist declares. Yet anger is part of our DNA, part of how God made us and for good reason. Anger can trigger fight or flight. Anger can motivate action. (I must admit I vacillated between anger and needing to laugh just to stay sane.) Paul’s teaching, “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger” are truly words to live by. Each day there was a new thing to be angry about, so I was so grateful to act to resolve it rather than become paralyzed by anger. But that is a choice, that is your choice.
There is great anger, angst and anxiety right now. Anger is not to be denied or avoided but something to be honest about. Be honest about the anger in your life. Make a plan on how you want to address the matter. Bring it to God in prayer. Be responsible for your actions of reconciliation. Then maybe, just maybe, we can be part of the solution transforming the world as Jesus called us as blessed peacemakers and children of God. Amen.
