Article May 15, 2006 Issue

FREEDOM FROM ANGER— essential to healing

BY MARVIN CARSON

I'D LOST MY COMPOSURE and emotionally railed at a politician for introducing a government bill I viewed as very harmful. This mental tirade continued for a full half-hour, until it dawned on me that what I was doing was just as wrong as, if not worse than, what I so vehemently despised.

I calmed down, trying to forgive us both. And when the subject appeared again on the news, I held my peace. However, it triggered memories of another time when political upheaval had caused me great distress. And along with those recollections, I became violently ill.

So it was that, through prayer and spiritual growth, I was to realize more than ever before how directly our thinking, particularly the indulgence in anger, can adversely affect our health—until we understand the utter powerlessness of evil. During the second day of the illness, a friend I'd asked to pray for me came and stayed the night. Because I was in pain and vomiting, we called my family, and I asked a Christian Science practitioner to pray for me.

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