The Bitter Root of Anger

     The story of the prodigal son found in the book of Luke, chapter 15, is a story that is very familiar to most of us. In many cases it actually is describing us at some point in our life. The son decides he is ready to take his part of his father's inheritance, squanders it living lavishly, hits the bottom of  life's barrel, decides to go back home and beg his father to let him be a servant, and upon his return the father celebrates the return of his son that was lost and now is found by placing a ring on his son's hand, providing him with new clothes, and then hosting a festive party in honor of his son's return. A true example of forgiveness that each of us can learn a lesson. Well, sorry that's not the part of the story that our FTM Thought is about today. Instead I would like for us to look at another character in this parable that many times gets not much more than a slight mention at the end of the story.
     The elder brother in this parable is the true and loyal son that stays at home and manages his father's businesses and estate. He is the one that while the younger brother was out living it up, he was hard at work doing double the work, carrying the load, and staying the course. With the feast in full swing, the elder brother returns home and questions what the festivities are all about. When a servant tells him that his younger brother has returned and their father has ordered a calf to be roasted and a huge party be held to celebrate the return of his lost son, the elder son goes off. He finds his dad and basically says this isn't fair. He states that he has been the one that has stayed loyal to his father and worked the fields, sweating and toiling in the hot sun while his brother went out and wasted away what his father had given him. The elder son complains that his dad hasn't ever even given him a goat to roast and share with his friends.
     Dad explains to the elder son that all that he has is his and that he should be celebrating because his brother that was lost is now found, he was dead but now he has come back to life. And that is pretty much where the parable ends, but there is one piece of information that is still unresolved. What happens with the elder brother? He has a choice to make, will he forgive his brother and join the celebration of his return? Or will he hold on to his anger and create a grudge against his younger brother because he went out and wasted his part of his father's estate on wine, women, and wild times and now has just came back home to take part of what is rightfully the elder's inheritance? We do not receive the answer to our questions in the parable, but we do know what the outcomes of his choice will produce in either situation.
     If the elder son chooses to follow his father's advice and forgive his younger brother regardless of how upset he is at his younger brother then all is good and life moves forward. But what if the elder brother remains angry and holds a grudge because his baby brother got to go out into the world and still gets his father's blessing equal to his own? That is the topic of today's Flat Tire Thought.
     Hebrews 12:15 describes anger as a bitter root that destroys our opportunity to enjoy life to it's fullest. Anger, resentment, grudges, and hard feelings rob us of our happiness. We sit around and say "well that isn't fair" or " I'll never be able to forgive them for that", while all the time life is moving forward. As we harden our resolve we deepen the bitter roots of anger into our life. Think of anger as a network of roots digging deep into the ground, spreading out it's tentacles, feeding the anger, and increasing in strength with every word of resentment and each thought of revenge that we create and allow to fester in our words and actions. The sad part of holding on to anger is as much as we want to enact revenge or see someone "get what they've got coming", the anger we hold on to actually only hurts us. Our anger is ours and it will only steal away our joy in life.
     Anger is a choice, just as forgiveness is a choice. The father in the story provides the example of the same type of forgiveness that is offered to each of us in life by our Heavenly Father. 1 John 1:9 tells us that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." If it came right down to it most of us would probably be deserving of a little punishment for the life we have lived and the decisions we have made along the path of life's journey. But we are able to ask for forgiveness and it is given. On the other hand, we want to see those that have wronged us get paid back for what they have done to us. We want justice served for the hurt they have invoked on us and if they don't receive the justice we feel is due them we scream "well that isn't fair". 
      Why should it be any different in our lives than it is in our search for redemption. We want to be forgiven, yet we won't forgive those that have wronged us? Well the result of that choice is to create a root, a bitter root of anger in our life that will only destroy our joy in life. To choose forgiveness is the example we should live by and in so doing we are granted a sense of peace that allows us to move forward enjoying the life we have been given to live. 
     This week give some time to a relationship that you have that is currently under the strain of anger. Are you holding on to the anger of unresolved situations or choices with a friend or relative? How about someone at work or at school?  Don't feed the bitter roots of resentment and anger, go to that person, sit down and talk with them, and sincerely forgive them. That forgiveness will set you free and dry up the bitter roots of anger in your life. Life's too short to live it in anger. Make this week an amazing week to be alive! 
Coach Carter