Anger is a fire

Anger burns.

I've seen anger work in two seemingly different ways.

Anger can drive us to radical honesty. To name the things we've been through in our lives. To speak with clarity. To move us out of situations that are hurting us. To drive us into our inner knowing. To bring about transformation and authenticity in the process.

Anger is an energy... and I believe it's an energy meant to bring positive change through radical honesty. 

Anger is a motivator.

But as we know all too well, some get stuck in anger cycles forever and ever. Change does not happen. Harm is done. And the anger becomes a fire consuming the one who is angry.

Why?

I kept asking this question.

Then it hit me.

Anger really is like fire.

Fire burns that which it has to consume (the fuel) and then it goes out.

So why would a fire keep burning, smoldering, smoking?

Fire does that when there's something that's not consumed. A fuel source that is stuck.

And I think that's the case with anger.

Anger is meant to bring clarity, confidence, and positive change in our lives (albeit, yes, sometimes it can get quite messy.)

But when we do not open ourselves up to the radical honesty about ourselves and our world that anger can show us, we get stuck. We get stuck in hate. Toward others or, honestly, towards ourselves.

And then that fiery anger will smoke and smolder and simmer forever.

Are you going through a season of anger? What is the anger trying to consume? What is it trying to understand? To adjust? To free you from either in your world or in yourself?

Anger is not bad. It isn't. It's purposeful. It's meant to consume, move, and motivate.

Anger turns "bad" when we don't allow it to do its work.

What is anger trying to bring to light and burn up in you today?