A soldier named Nobushige came to the Zen master Hakuin, and asked: "Is there really a paradise and a hell?"
"Who are you?" inquired Hakuin.
"I am a samurai," the warrior replied.
"You, a soldier!" exclaimed Hakuin. What kind of ruler would have you as his guard? Your face looks like that of a beggar."
Nobushige became so angry that he began to draw his sword, but Hakuin continued: "So you have a sword! Your weapon is probably much too dull to cut off my head."
As Nobushige drew his sword Hakuin remarked: "Here open the gates of hell!"
At these words the samurai, perceiving the master's discipline, sheathed his sword and bowed.
"Here open the gates of paradise," said Hakuin.
"You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.' I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother 'idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell 'stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill" - Jesus Christ, in Matthew 5: 21-22, The Message.
Rage is not good. Whether you're a samurai about to chop someone's head off or a driver yelling at the guy who just cut you off in rush-hour, anger is not cool. I like to think of myself as an even-tempered, slow-to-anger kind of guy but there are times when anger gets the better of me. It should slip off like water off a duck's back... but sometimes it's like grease on a white shirt: it sticks, and it's ugly.
I always feel embarrassed afterward, like a petulant child that didn't get his way. Because I am surrounded by gracious people, I am forgiven and humbled.
I pray that God continues to work at me, an imperfect person, so that I can speak Peace instead of War.
...and that God also endows those around me, especially my fiancee (ha!), with supernatural patience.
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