This week,

in Fayetteville, a beautiful 21-year-old woman who was training to be

an accountant was killed during what police call "a road rage incident."

According to

newspaper reports, the individual charged in her death, a 32-year-old

man, told police that a white Chevrolet Blazer in front of his Ford truck

was driving "erratically" and he increased his speed and passed

the Chevy. Then, for whatever reason, the man "slammed on his brakes"

while in front in the young woman who then lost control of her vehicle.

The Blazer

flipped several times, killing the young woman and injuring her 22-year-old

male passenger. The man who slammed on his brakes "a couple of times"

is facing charges of felony murder, aggravated assault, and leaving the

scene of an accident. All, apparently, because he was full of anger.

This past week

also saw news accounts of high school students being filmed in a "hazing

incident" in another state. The beer, allegedly illegally supplied

of over a hundred teenagers with the result that a number of high school

junior girls were viciously slapped, hit, beaten, and kicked by their

senior counterparts. Some received broken bones and a number required

hospital treatment.

Now, some of

these teens are facing the possibility of expulsion, fines, and jail time,

while others definitely experienced "hospital and recovery time."

Parents may also face legal consequences. Again, apparently, all because

these teens were full of anger.

Several months

ago, a minister friend said to a group of colleagues gathered for breakfast,

"Is it just me or does our society seem full of rage?" We all

agreed that, in our observation, anger sometimes to the point of rage

is on the increase.

These days,

children do not just get into schoolyard fights; they often bring knives

or even guns to the playground, with tragic results. Police know that

if someone is murdered, it is often a spouse or family member that has

committed the act in a fit of uncontrolled anger.

A number of

years ago, I counseled a couple who were experiencing terrible problems.

In my office I had on display a Japanese Samurai sword that had been given

to me as a gift. The tension was so bad between these two that, finally,

I quietly began the practice of removing the sword from the room prior

to this couple's visit. Sure enough, one day the man became so full of

hatred that he jumped up and began looking for the sword. I don't know

if he intended to slice and dice me or his spouse.

Such anger,

such rage, is not only unhealthy and ungodly, it can be downright diabolical.

Proverbs 16:32 (NIV) says, "Better a patient man than a warrior,

a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city." Again from

Proverbs: "Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming ..." (27:4 NIV).

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,

brawling and slander, along with every form of malice" (Eph. 4:31

NIV).

One of the

great faults of our society is that we admire and revere those who commit

murder, violence, and mayhem. Nearly every American minimally versed in

the history of the Old West can recall the names of Billy the Kid, Jesse

and Frank James, and the Dalton Gang. We also look with fascination and

awe on the evil deeds of Al Capone, John Dillinger, and Baby Face Nelson.

The most popular Hollywood films are those which feature as heroes those

who commit violence and destruction. Children and youth learn, from an

early age, to "kill and destroy" their adversaries as they spend

countless hours engrossed in video games. Why, then, are we surprised

when anger and fury breaks into our "real world?"

This week,

the course of several young lives has been altered forever. Some people

will likely go to jail, others will be expelled from school, several may

face large fines, and many of these will live with a criminal record for

the rest of their lives, while others cope with shame and guilt. And one

pretty young woman with her entire life in front of her will never see

her hopes and dreams fulfilled.

"Be at

peace among yourselves," said St. Paul (I Thess 5:13 NKJV). "Pursue

peace with all people ... without which no one will see the Lord,"

Hebrews 12:14 declares. Centuries ago, King David prayed, "Deliver

me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men ..." (Ps

140:1 NKJV).

May God also

deliver others from the anger and violence that reside deep in the recesses

of our own hearts as well. And may he have mercy on both the perpetrators

and the victims of unrestrained rage and fury.

[David Epps

is rector of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church at 4881 Ga.

Highway 34, between Peachtree City and Newnan. He may be contacted at

[email protected]. The church, which meets at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

each Sunday, has a Web site at www.ctkcec.org.]