The way I see it, we currently have too many angry people in our little island paradise.
What compounds the problem, is the fact that anger begets anger and so the general reaction to someone’s wrath being poured out on you, is the pouring back of wrath on the instigator—make that a double portion, in response!
I have learnt through my lifelong experiences, that there is nothing wrong with ignoring persons who are trying to hurt you, whether in thought, word or deed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with WALKING AWAY.
Mind you, one Christian brother once told me that the bible admonishes that we should ‘turn the other cheek’ but that he had come to the conclusion that after he would have turned the other cheek, he had no more cheeks to turn, so he could come out punching.
Well I newa!
There was also this sister who stated in response to someone she was really mad with: ‘If I see her in heaven, I will turn back!’
Now which heaven, she really thinks that she is going to?
Cricket is my favourite sport and I think I know more than a little about the great game ‘of glorious uncertainties’ and one of the best shots that can be played in the game-or maybe we should say non-shot, is the LEAVE ALONE.
In this case, the batsman picks up the line of the ball, being fully aware where his stumps are and raise the bat high, totally ignoring the delivery.
What that does in effect, is that it has no chance of touching the bat and giving a possible catch and so you ‘live to fight another day.’
Now, there are instances where people leave alone and the ball comes back to hit the stumps. It’s as embarrassing an OUT, as you can get.
Case of reference: FAF Du Plessis, the South African captain, who in the current intriguing test match versus India, was unceremoniously bowled, leaving alone a delivery, in the first innings.
However, generally speaking, the LEAVE ALONE is a good response to the aggression of the bowler.
Just recently, as I drove our church bus, through a particular village, taking persons home from church, I turned a slight bend and there was a vehicle smack in the middle of the road-engine off.
The driver was liming by the roadside with some friends and I waited patiently for him to move. A few minutes passed and he continued with his conversation as if I was nonexistent.
Someone in the bus said: “Blow your horn!”
I did so with some hesitation and after a few moments, he moved reluctantly towards his vehicle. Meantime, he had an evil look on his face, as if to say, ‘why you had to pass here to disturb me?’
Well I newa!
He moved the vehicle and I went on my way without further incident.
Just this week, I was at a work place that I have to visit regularly, in my line of work and as I entered the building, I observed that the red studio light was on.
Now note my words carefully: The red light would SUGGEST that someone was recording at the time.
I asked politely: ‘Is someone recording?’ It was a general question. One of the senior ladies in the room, snapped: ‘That is a foolish question. You aint see the red light on?’
Make it worse, one of the junior ladies, cackled.
Now, the reason why I asked the question, is for the simple reason that on more than one occasion, persons have used the studio and forgotten the red light on and left the door closed!
Now, the way that we respond to comments like that, could serve to spoil our day but I have learnt that our choice in the way we respond, could help us to have a pleasant day, or on the contrary, an awful one.
Have it ever occurred to you that when someone has said or done something hurtful to you and you are left sulking and fuming, that they probably would go home, eat their food and sleep like a baby?
You on the other hand, because of how you are responding, refuse to eat; can’t get to sleep and end up stressing out yourself and effectively kill yourself slowly.
That is why I prefer to play the LEAVE ALONE.
If we play the LEAVE ALONE, there will also be less murders; fewer cancer related deaths and generally HAPPIER FACES!
I have also heard that it takes 43 muscles to frown and only 17 to smile, while another source says that it takes 26 to smile and 62 to frown.
‘Smile and the world smiles with you.’
On no, I am certainly not advocating that you go around grinning like an idiot—but make your face look a lot more pleasant man!
If you leave your face with that constant frown, it eventually will becomes a permanent fixture.
Because the bible ought to be our ultimate guide, I will conclude with these gems:
New International Version
“Proverbs 21: 9:
Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Cross References
Proverbs 19:13
A foolish son is destruction to his father, And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.
Proverbs 21:19
It is better to live in a desert land Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
Proverbs: 17: 1
1Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife. 2A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, And will share in the inheritance among brothers.…
Ephesians 6: 4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”
Yes, we have to work on getting rid of the anger from within our community. The best way to start, I recommend, is for us to submit our hearts, our will and our way to God almighty ‘and he shall direct our paths…’
That’s the way I see it. How do you see it?