Resisting Anger

One final thought from Pastor Chellew-Hodge's book:

"Instead of regarding our attackers as enemies to be defeated, those of us with a bulletproof faith see an attack as an opportunity to improve ourselves and grow stronger and more resilient. Remember, when we have issues with other people's stuff, it's really our stuff. Our enemies, then, are there to remind us of our stuff and to help us transform ourselves into better, more loving, more faithful people" (88).

Personally I find this insight very important as I too have had and continue to have moments of anger and/or frustration from time to time over ways in which religious authorities continue to oppress members of the LGBT community. However, as Pastor Chellew-Hodge notes, getting angry or resentful usually only makes things worse. Instead, the challenge and the opportunity, it seems to me, is something akin to the Serenity Prayer - learning to accept what can't be changed for now, working on changing what can be, and maintaining active awareness so as to be able to distinguish and discern how God is calling each of us to act.

Peace,
Padre Chuck