We all experience anger.

Anger is a common human experience.

There are many possible provocations for anger. some are legitimate; some emerge from our narcissism All seem rooted in our essential fear of losing something we value.

We know people whom we would describe as angry by nature or angry all the time. We can agree that such anger is not healthy.

There are times when we wish we could simply shake off our anger, but we are unable to do so. That is a subject for another article, but it may involve self-therapy or therapy with a counselor.

Another time for that.

What I want to say today is something general. Watch this video for context:

In these days, if I said to you, “don’t be angry,” it would be stupid of me.  I’d be angry at myself for saying that. You’d be angry at me. Rightfully so. Anger is natural. It is either a force for evil or a force for good. It can be both. It is your choice.

It is not your choice whether or not to be angry. You have permission. Ephesians. 4:26 says to be angry. Go ahead, be angry. Let your anger be what it is. Acknowledge it. Be honest about it and consider it a form of energy. Now, what are you going to do with your energy?

Well, Paul tells us in that verse what not to do with our end energy, don’t sin.

You say, “I’m not a follower of the Bible. What do you mean by sin? “

Sin is a reality, Karl Menninger wrote a book called, “Whatever Became of Sin.”

Do you believe that there’s evil? Do you believe that there are bad choices? Do you believe that people can shoot for one thing and hit something else? Then you do believe in sin. Have you ever made a bad choice? Join us in that assumption.

That’s what we mean by sin.

Don’t do the wrong thing. Don’t make the wrong choice. Don’t have the wrong attitude. Don’t do wrong. Don’t do evil, don’t harm people.

OK, go ahead and be angry.

How do I handle that?

Don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Don’t let. anger predominate your life. Don’t let it go on and on and on. Do not let it become the driving force of your life. Handle it and don’t let it run your life. Let it be part of your life. Let it be positive in your life, but don’t let it run your life.

That’s what Paul means.

There are three words that cross my mind. They all start with “E.”

Bad E: Excuse

Do not let your anger become an excuse for doing what is wrong. Don’t let it motivate you to make big mistakes or hurt people. Do not live in anger or act badly in anger. No excuses. Anger is never an excuse for being a jerk.

E for All: Expression

Everyone must find a healthy outlet for their anger. It could be exercise. It is often the process of talking it out. It might be work. It might be play. It might be time. It may be therapy.

Good E: Energy

This is what I recommend. Find ways to be energized by your anger to make a positive impact on the world.

I recently saw the movie, “Harriet.” Mrs. Tubman came out of slavery and turned her freedom and anger at the evil institution into positive energy.

She committed her life to confronting evil by defying the institution and freeing slaves. She focused. She kept at it and vowed not to quit as long as one slave remained in captivity.

That is what you do with anger.

Find a cause and be energized to turn evil into good.