the energy of anger

I have learned to use my anger for good… Without it, we
would not be motivated to rise to a challenge. 
It is an energy that compels us to define what is just and unjust.
                                                                        Gandhi
______________________________________
 
we see it in the faces of the protestor 
claiming the streets and insisting
black lives matter
 
we see it too in the faces of those who 
push them, contain them, 
and sometimes brutalize them
 
there is the anger over injustice
anger over “rules” broken
anger over death
anger over old norms and systems assailed
 
it is a holy mess
it is a mess because there is destruction and even death
and the fabric of our nation is shredded
 
it is holy because sometimes things need to change
 
anger opens our eyes to what is wrong
anger wakes us up, and compels us to action
anger demands that we do something
 
but anger is almost never arises alone
its constant companion is grief
grief over injustice and oppression
grief over lives lost 
grief over what we learn about ourselves
 
and comingled grief and anger
which comes as pain is piled on pain 
and finally explodes
 
can, if we are willing to truly look at where the 
pain and anger are coming from
if we are willing to address the ills
if we are willing to move to communal repentance
and if we are willing to translate this all
into compassionate action
and justice seeking
 
help us rebuild the beloved community
 
out of the anger 
and out of the grief
can come joy
 
not a shallow happiness
that glosses over the pain
but the deep joy
of resilience
 
the joy of justice defying injustice
the joy of reconciliation defying division
the joy of kindness defying brutality
the joy of truth defying deceit
the joy of love defying hate
 
the joy that comes when we refuse 
to answer evil with evil
but overcome evil with good