Forgiving the Transference of Anger In Others

“Honesty in Our Sin” – the Poem

Anger that burns from deep within,

A sign of our unreconciled burden of sin,

We and they – we’re just the same,

Our humanness just wants to shift the blame.

The anger in transference is sullenly spent,

Most of us have no idea that’s how we’re bent,

But God can reveal just how we miss the mark,

When he shows us, most certainly, our mood is dark.

Where's our soul, and our mind?
What's our role, and how are we defined?
Now's the time to reflect on 'being',
Our hope is now to begin the seeing.
Where's our soul, and our mind?
What's our role, and how are we defined?
Now's the time to reflect on 'being',
Our hope is now to begin the seeing.
Where's our soul, and our mind?
What's our role, and how are we defined?
Now's the time to reflect on 'being',
Our hope is now to begin the seeing.
Face tFFace-to-face with our sin – we feel the shame,

The only shame that brings good pain,

For this pain we feel is for a reconciliatory cause,

Remorse and amends opens God’s doors.

Anger is good – for in it we’re shown,

Just how good God can be known,

For God shows us our own sinful part,

Honesty in our sin is a very good start.

Forgiving another’s transference of anger against us – often as it’s caged in passive aggressiveness – is about acknowledging just how far we are all are compared with the standards of holiness God assumes by his nature.

In our brokenness we are similar with each other, if not the same.

We would like to be honest with people, but because we often cannot be, we communicate in ways that inflict anger on them. Of course, others do it to us all the time. We notice it when it’s in full swing against us, but we’re not as liable to see it when we are the propagators.

The more we can see our own sin, the more compassionate we are regarding others’ sin. The more we can see how pure and holy God is – and wholly set apart – the more we are contrite in our own failures of unrighteousness, injustice and unfairness.

These are important reckonings! We suddenly see that the grace in God is as perfect as it is untouchable – it is far too holy for us. Yet, it is given to us. How utterly good is God to have determined we are worthy of forgiveness because of Jesus Christ!

***

Forgiving others’ transference of anger onto us is easier – and abundantly easy – when we see how similar we are. When God gives us this sight for our own sinfulness unforgiveness is suddenly much less a problem. God’s grace is perfect, as God is perfect. Our gracelessness is addressed when we acknowledge the truth: it is wonderful to know I am a sinner, because judgment against others is shown for what it truly is – an attack against God.

© 2013 S. J. Wickham.