My memory bank includes many “injustice-firsts” — that is, the first time I encountered a specific form of injustice. My memory bank firsts include in-family abuse of a teenage girl, domestic violence, homophobia, abuse of creation, anti-black racism, and more. You have your own memory bank that may be somewhat similar. 

Much justice-seeking is initially fueled by anger. We experience specific forms of injustice like the ones listed above, and we are enraged, and this anger becomes a form of energy that propels us to seek justice. 

Anger is a volatile fuel. Scripture notes two things about anger: it is a valid human emotion and it needs to be handled with special care. 

“Be angry but do not sin,” Paul tells the Ephesians, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.” (4.26) In the great love chapter (I Corinthians 13), Paul lists many things that love is NOT, and into this list he quietly slips, “Love is not easily angered.” (v.5) The added adverb reminds us that love requires anger at times, but it also requires caution.

Three years ago a variety of angers all came together in my life so that I did not know what to do with them. I was consumed by them and I needed wise professional help. Through this I came to realize that my anger was intended to serve as a doorway into sadness and longing. I also realized that anger might serve as a fuel for action, but it often did not serve as a fuel for wisdom. But the sadness and longing that the anger led to did build capacity for wisdom.

Fifteen years ago Dr. Steven Garber delivered a public lecture at Redeemer University (Ancaster, ON) in which he suggested a four-part disciplined rhythm for anger evoked by injustice. Dr. Garber put it like this: 

1. We weep
2. We pray
3. We discern / study / discuss
4. We act

Life is too complex and messy to be reduced to a simple, four-part rhythm, but I have found Garber’s proposal profoundly helpful.  When I think of all the organizations and movements that my wife and I support financially, pray for, and have become involved with, the channeling of initial anger into something like this disciplined rhythm is always present. 

I’ve also found that this is not a linear rhythm but a randomly circular one.  Acting leads to more weeping, discerning leads to more praying, refreshed angers require refreshed channeling, and so on and on. At times the injustice is so desperate that action of some kind must come first. The four disciplines weave through one another synergistically, each one deepening the others.

These past few months anger has been accumulating within me again. I’m grateful for wise guidance in attempting to channel it well. 

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