Anger is a killing thing: it kills the man who angers, for each rage leaves him less than he had been before – it takes something from him. – Louis L’Amour
Fear, I believe, is woven into the fabric of our being; there is no getting rid of him.
I tried to defeat him, to run away from him, and even to deny his existence.
His response was to introduce me to his offspring and unleash them upon me.
I have selected and used the following poem from my memoir several times; it offers new insights in each blog, including the excerpt from “I’m Afraid” that follows it.
Guard Against Annoyance
Annoyance leads to Anger.
Anger leads to Resentment.
Resentment leads to Hatred.
Hatred leads to Revenge.
Revenge feeds the Ego.
An overstuffed Ego
Swells with Pride.
Pride comes before the Fall.
The Fall is into Darkness.
Too much time spent in the Darkness
Results in rejection of the Light.
Rejection of the Light leads to
Loss of the Soul.
Anger, whether justified, unjustified, or floating, is Fear’s favorite child. Fear feeds it, often with self-pity and self-righteousness, until it grows large enough to have a mind of its own.
After gorging itself on resentment, hatred, and revenge, anger swells with pride and assumes the right to be in control, to judge, and, of course, to be right.
These feelings are powerful and difficult to resist. When I experience them, one question inevitably comes to my mind: knowing that my anger is unjustified, and realizing that I have no right to blame whomever or whatever is the convenient target of my rage, I ask myself if I will admit that I am wrong and release my grip on anger.
Each time, for a very brief but clear moment, the answer is, “No.” I refuse to give it up for anyone or anything, even God Himself. That terrifies me. – Excerpt from “I’m Afraid”
Fear and All of His Children always have existed, usually lurking in the shadows waiting for an opportunity to strike.
In today’s world, however, it appears they have abandoned the shadows and taken center stage.
Be awake. Be alert. Be prepared.
I offer these thoughts for your consideration.
Communication, I believe, is the key to understanding one another.
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The saga continues in my next blog.
Do Not Be Afraid!!!