Madder than a Wet Hen!

The expression "Madder than a wet hen" comes from the fact that chickens in no way like to find themselves in water. And if they do happen to fall into the drink, they flap and cluck, doing all they can to get out (to say chickens don't swim very well would be an understatement!).

Earlier this week, 34 year old Omar S. Thornton was called into a meeting with his employer. Thornton had been caught on video tape stealing beer from the company. At this particular meeting, he was given the choice of resigning his job or being fired. He chose the former. Then on his way out, he pulled a couple of handguns out of his lunch box and opened fire. His rampage led to the deaths of 9 people, including himself (he committed suicide).

In the aftermath of this horrendous act, questions have been raised as to the motives of the shooter. According to his own testimony (recorded on a 911 call he made after shooting his victims and just prior to the taking of his own life), Thornton claimed that he had been the victim of racial harassment (he is African American) and so he wanted to fix the problem. So bottom line ... Thorton was "madder than a wet hen."

Now I don't know if Thorton was a victim of racial harassment as he claims (it certainly is possible as racial prejudice is not by any means dead in this country). But I do know he was very troubled and very angry! And this tragedy illustrates just how destructive anger can be. It hurts those around us ... and it hurts us, too! This is why the Bible is very explicit on how we are to handle our anger. In Ephesians 4:26 the Apostle Paul tells us how God wants us to handle anger: "In your anger do not sin; Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." We are going to get angry. But when we do we are to be careful not to sin. We are to deal with our anger when it arises, not allowing it to simmer and smolder until it reaches the boiling point (which is what Thorton allowed to happen!). I tell people who have anger problems to look beneath the anger and identify the reason for the anger. Only then can one begin to get a handle on one's temper.

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj