I can now walk without a cane. But I must admit there is some pain involved. One of the fastest remedies for my painful knee has been the application of ice. Within two minutes I get that “ahhh” feeling when we cool it down. My newest friend is an ice bucket with a pump that circulates cold water in a thin bladder wrapped around my leg. It reminds me of the meaning of “stay cool” or “cool it down” when we see people filled with ire. To cool down the heat of an infuriating moment can make all the difference between life and death. I once saw an irate person return from his bedroom with a pistol. It was the most precarious thing I could imagine.
It is popular to speak of people of faith burning with passion for their cause, but realistically speaking, more people in history have been slaughtered because of the passion of religion. People are never more dangerous than when they think they are killing for God. So far this 21st century has been one of brutality and bloodshed in God’s name. I do realize many psychopaths use religion as an excuse for violent antisocial behavior, but there are many hungry to brutalize the world with their brand of faith.
Lest I leave the wrong idea that we should be lukewarm about our faith I want to stress that if we burn, if we are hot, we should be hot to love, hot to be the kindest person in the world. We should be hot to tell people how wonderful Jesus is. That kind of heat needs no ice to cool it down. Solomon was never wiser than when he wrote, “A soft (cool) answer turns away wrath.” Proverbs 15:1
Written by Roger Bothwell on January 1, 2015
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org