Sabbath Devotional :: Emojis, Gandhi and God

It has been another busy week in our country. Town Halls convened — some raucous — some civil. Phones and faxes rang. Citizens wrote, stamped and sent post cards and letters. Grassroots organizations — many with goals overlapping MWEG’s — sprang up. Merriam-Webster reminded the country, despite sound bites to the contrary, that the definition of feminism is “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.” Articles and actions collected likes, hearts, wows, as well as weepy and angry faces.

I caught myself after clicking on the angry icon related to some new irksome development. What am I doing with the anger I just admitted to the entire cyber world? Wasn’t it Gandhi — one of the leaders after which MWEG models its approach — the one who said, “Anger is the enemy of non-violence”?

On this Sabbath I will seek lessons from anger. Typically, it is a secondary emotion, masking something more primal — like fear, hurt, loss, betrayal. It is a defense mechanism like pain that should draw our attention to the root cause, not the quashing of a symptom with shame or denial. On MWEG (and in life in general, for that matter) our hope is to remain “anxiously engaged” in positive ways toward our worthy goals. When every day brings new disturbing headlines, how do we find our way through primal injuries to a place of peace and action?

Again, Gandhi has wise words: “I know, to banish anger altogether from one’s breast is a difficult task. It cannot be achieved through pure personal effort. It can be done only by God’s grace.”

Today I will ask God to help me accept His grace. I will invite His wondrous alchemy to turn the dark feelings that assault my peace into something green and good, sprouting with gratitude and love.

I will examine the deeper injuries — what values I cherish are being threatened? Why does this feel so personal to me? I will acknowledge the anger and reframe it into something positive. Again, Gandhi provides wisdom: “Non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as is cooperation with good.” If I chance to meet a frown, I will turn it into “non-cooperation with evil” and put my impulses to good work protecting a value rather than impaling a foe.

I expect this experiment in moving beyond anger into love will take more than one day’s meditations. It will, in fact, be a life’s work. I’m clear enough about my own inadequacies to be realistic about my expectations. Another Gandhi quote gives satisfying perspective: “Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.”

As I go through my Sabbath I will renew heartfelt covenants, recommit myself to peace and tranquility and try to be gentle with myself when I fall short of my greatest aspirations. I will also be buoyed and joyful knowing that I am associated with you all. Through the dynamism and vigor of MWEG I believe the truth of this last Gandhi quote: “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.”

Carry on in the good work. Blessings on your wonderful heads.