Issue 169
As far as I am aware, there were no studies of stress carried out in 1000 BC. The increased risk of heart disease, infections or other major health problems created by stressful living had not been documented. Of all the skills listed in the Old Testament, stress consultant, personal development trainer or life coach does not figure. The toxic effect of aggression and rage on the human body had not been described in physiological detail three millennia ago.
Yet David is still able to give advice which is as modern as a PowerPoint presentation on blood chemistry. In one sentence he summarises thousands of years of study and crystallises wisdom which, if heeded, would revolutionise our workplaces, our health and our world. So profound is his thinking that you would imagine he had at least a higher degree in people management or business studies. Before I defeat the object of this piece and irritate you, let me tell you what he says:
David identifies three villains: anger, wrath, and fretting. They are all members of the same family related by blood (pressure and temperature!). Anger has so many faces – suspicion, selfishness, resentment, record keeping and vindictiveness – that it sometimes hard to spot, but nevertheless, it is real. Wrath is less subtle and shows itself in rage, temper-loss, fury and violence. Fretting, as we have seen, is to do with heating up; it includes anxiety, worry and frustration as well as a simmering irritation. It is more long term than wrath and probably connects with anger’s memory of grievances.
These villains lead you up a blind alley which David says ends up in evil. He may not have known the detail, but there is more evil here than meets even his experienced eye. They lead to depression, sickness absence, sleepless nights, endless health struggles, troubled minds, hurt feelings and early graves. They lead to fights, quarrels, fallings out and silent stand offs. These three are more volatile than explosives, and more infectious than viruses. They are the ultimate weapons of mass destruction.
David’s A-Z provides another route to follow. As regards anger, he says “refrain”; as regards wrath, “turn from it”; as regards fretting “don’t”. In this respect, he is the very first cognitive behaviour expert for he is assuming that you are capable of choosing not to follow these villains. You can ‘refrain’, ‘turn’, and ‘not’ in relation to these behaviours.
There is something about angry behaviour which wants to take pre-emptive action. It can be driven by desire to mete out justice or revenge. It includes an attempt to take control and play judge, jury and policeman in people’s lives, condemning others to eat the fruits of our wrath. There is a fervent hope that people will get what is coming to them.
Well, they will according to David, but not from you. This will be self destructive. His advice is to “hope in the Lord”. It takes the responsibility for justice out of your hands and places it on someone who knows what he is doing. Don’t wish for destruction – hope in the Lord. It will probably take us another few millennia to figure this out.
Psalm 37
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18 The blameless spend their days under the LORD’s care,
and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish:
Though the LORD’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;
22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be destroyed.
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Work well
Geoff Shattock
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