Marine Corps Base Quantico -- People are angry. If there is one thing that commentators from across the spectrum are saying about this political season, it is that people are angry, and anger is affecting how they see the world and vote. Even apart from politics there is no shortage of anger. How quickly we become annoyed by other drivers, selfish coworkers, or, too often, those with whom we live.

Merriam-Webster defines anger thus: “A strong feeling of being upset or annoyed because of something wrong or bad.” This definition encompasses both the feeling of anger and a cause. Anger doesn’t drop out of the sky like a meteor. We typically get angry for a reason — we are responding to something. There are two very important things to remember when it comes to this very strong emotion: Anger has a purpose, though we must control it.

Anger has a purpose. We become angry at perceived injustices. If we see someone being abusive toward a child, we, naturally, grow angry. If someone is handling a weapon in an unsafe way, needlessly putting other people in danger, we will likely feel anger. Anger can move us to take needed corrective action — it can provide the emotional impetus, energy, and courage we need to engage (so as to correct) an injustice.

Thus the second important thing to remember about anger: We need to control it. Anything of great power has the potential to be a great good, or a great evil. So too here: Our anger can cloud our reasoning, and therefore our judgment. It can make us destroyers. Instead of correcting an injustice, we can harm people, wreck relationships and engage in actions that we regret the rest of our lives. How, then, do we use anger rightly, and not be used by it?

I suggest three steps:

One, let it out…safely. We need a safe venue for honest expression. This is a strong benefit of a good prayer life. If we trust God enough to turn to him and ‘let it all out,’ we are poised to be resilient and emotionally honest persons. Having a good friend who is willing to hear us out can be an excellent (and safe) venue for our strong emotions. Your chaplain’s office is ‘safe space.’ Punch a pillow. We all have to have SOME place to go with raw emotions, even emotions we’re not ‘supposed’ to have.

Two, we engage our reason. God gave us the ability to think through possible courses of action, and to choose freely the best action based on our values…we need not be slaves to how we feel. Using our reason also allows us to examine the situation from the viewpoint of the other person(s), and to consider how we will come across to them.

Once we have taken the time to (1) let it out (safely), and (2) engage our reason, we are ready to proceed as our best selves. We choose our response. Or we choose not to respond at all. Regardless, it is our reason that is now calling the shots, not the anger, even though the anger, as I mentioned above, may be contributing helpful ‘energy’ to the situation.

May our anger be turned into a useful, constructive part of our emotional lives.