Pity, Compassion, and Righteous Anger

So, in reality, we all have experienced and lived in these ways, whether pity, compassion, or anger, in response to an event or person. Sometimes we move quickly through, sometimes we remain in one mode of activity, and should 'stay there.' But, if we all did, we'd miss the point.

My question is, what are the efforts that cause your righteous anger to bubble up enough to really get connected and do something?

It might be the environment, seniors issues, gay rights, living wage, poverty, children's issues, youth, religious issues, etc. What has led you to feel the 'anger' that Jesus might also feel at injustice, and leads you to act?

Personally, after 23 years in the business, I have never noticed this interpretation and its importance because it reminds us that a spirituality of pity isn't enough...or worth dying for, in fact it doesn't cost a thing, thats why it's likely not enough...

- John

Footnote: righteous anger is what got Jesus crucified, that is, He went to the cross because he wouldn't safely be a pity prophet, or just a compassionate crusader...he was called to righteous anger...that can get you killed!

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Comments

[John]

Your message (and the story) has returned to me time and again this week and the central point you make has impacted me in important ways, and will continue to do so. Thank you. There is a time for righteous anger, even if it is potentially risky or costly for me. And I agree that downshifting to pity can reinforce my own sense of entitlement and superiority.
What I wonder though, is if we need to also acknowledge some of the downsides of anger. There have been times when I thought I was responding with righteous anger, only to eventually realize (or have it pointed out) that my motives weren't as clean as I thought. I wonder too if the cultivation of compassion can have a purifying effect on anger, so that these choices of expression work together to refine one another...

[john]

well, yes, i think that there is a continuum of sorts... and i choose compassion above all, but knowing that, the "christ like " behaviour can come from tapping into the anger that we experience when we see injustice. it is just esciting to realize that angr was part of the 'jesus expereince' as well as the other attributes we easily identify with. thx for comment
john