I'm on my way to the CRE at Esher today and have to be there by 10.00am. I've never been late before but this time the traffic is bad, bad: and I'm going to be late. Now I have a problem with being late: I can't cope with it, possibly some sort of inner healing needed. I take it out on my wife by blaming her. Let's not go into my justification. I really have no business getting angry and blaming my wife.

I do have the grace to apologise (yet again!). She has the grace to forgive me (yet again!) But it gets me thinking about anger and how we manage it. I have seen too many people damaged through anger, either giving it or receiving it.

There are times when our emotions overwhem us especially when we are frustrated or feel out of control. Here are 3 questions for you to ask. Print them out and pin them up somewhere.

1.  Is my anger proportionate to the circumstances? Have I lost my perspective?

2.  Is the momentary release worth the damage to my relationships and the lack of trust that may ensue?

Is my anger worth dragging in uninvolved people?

We are instructed to 'be angry but to sin not'. Let's make a real effort to be gracious and gentle with those around us, and never to lose our perspective.

Nothing drastic happened at the CRE as a result of my lateness; the stress was all mine. (Ack to Harvard for some of this guidance)