The Alphabet of Us: A is for Anger… December 8, 2014

  Jonathots Daily Blog

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All human beings possess a heart, a soul, mind and strength.

Nothing of any true significance can be achieved unless this is understood.

• Trying to deal with our emotions by thinking our way out of the situation is doomed to failure.
• Becoming emotionally involved with mathematical equations is equally sunk in the bog.
• And ignoring our spirituality, hoping to physically dominate in every facet of our lives, is just downright exhausting.

Every human being gets angry. Beware of those who insist they don’t–they are ticking time bombs, having stuffed all of their frustration down inside, likely to explode at a most inopportune time.

Anger is an emotion. To take a class in anger management is the belief that we can control that emotion by using better thinking.

I must disagree. As an emotion, anger must be handled emotionally.

So in pursuing the alphabet of us, let’s look at how we should handle our anger:

1. Be verbal.

Emotions should not be trapped without speech. It is “out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” What you want to ensure is that you can speak in a climate where you don’t have to be judged by your adversary, but can sound off to a friend and hear your feelings expressed in syllables.

That’s right–practice. Rehearse your anger–in the mirror, to a friend, to God or to anyone who is not the source of your resentment.

2. Listen to yourself.

There is nothing worse than being in the middle of an argument and hearing yourself voice your misgiving for the first time, and suddenly realize how stupid it is. Then you’re stuck in the midst of a fight, with your pride trying to win the day.

Listen to yourself.

That’s why we need to be spiritual. It is the soul that gives us the ability to separate out the real complaint from the blown-up rendition.

3. Clear your head.

There’s only one way to renew your brain. Make sure you take all previous experiences and set them aside in favor of a fresh encounter.

That’s what clearing your head is. It’s offering a brand new pathway, to allow conversation to produce change.

4. And finally, choose what’s really important.

Before you go have that interface with a person who has upset you, find out the core issue. Keep your anger as small as you possibly can to make it easier for the person hearing your insights to comply.

The biggest mistake we make is separating our parts–heart, soul, mind and strength–and believing they have the power to act on their own.

They are a team. They perform best as a team.

And the only way to handle anger is to use their teamwork.

The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity

Please contact Jonathan’s agent, Jackie Barnett, at (615) 481-1474, for information about scheduling.

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Check out Mr. Kringle’s Tales…26 Stories’Til Christmas

The Best Christmas Stories You’ll Ever Read!

Click on Santa to browse “Mr. Kringle’s Tales … 26 Stories Til Christmas”

Take Two To Sango — November 17, 2011

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One hundred and seventy-nine times this year I have stood up (or actually sat down) in front of audiences all over this country, from Houston, Texas, to Albany, New York, to King, North Carolina, to Deerwood, Minnesota, to Prosperity, South Carolina, to Dover, Delaware, to Willard, Ohio–culminating last evening at Sango United Methodist Church in Clarksville, Tennessee.

The scenario is always the same. Despite all the advertising, qualifications, recommendations and hype, people basically sit quietly and wait for me to establish enough relationship with them so they can trust what I say.I am not offended.  Actually, it shouldn’t be surprising that Americans have become gun-shy toward personal interaction, considering all the politics, scandals, religious fanaticism and just downright bizarre newscasting that happen right before their eyes each and every week.

What does it take to relate to human beings? An abandonment of ego, a focus on message and a tender understanding of the damaged soul of the American spirit.

I always begin with humor. Humor has two great powers–it lets people know that you don’t take things too seriously and also that you’re willing to poke fun at yourself. Sober-minded people are seriously erred. They fail to understand that connecting with one another is the only way to build bridges and without humor you lose one of the greatest spanners of the gap.

Humor. Don’t leave home without it.

I follow a sense of cheer with intelligence. Even if I believed–like the media does–that people are stupid, I would never treat them that way because playing to the lowest common denominator always gives you a fraction of the results you desire. I don’t try to talk over people’s heads or use big words, but I ask them to access their brain and request that it do something more than fill their cranium or pump out safe answers from their childhood culture. Intelligence is not trying to be smart. It is realizing that “smart” is happening all around us and still remains the only doorway to understanding.

And finally, my belief is that every human being I come into contact with is in need of a great, big dose of mercy. There is a common belief among the leadership in this country that the populace is either ignorant or lazy, but when people are bruised it can sometimes resemble those symptoms. I want people to know three things: First, that I love them. Second, that Jesus wants to make them look good. And third, that everything we want to accomplish will probably require that we change something. Mercy is what human beings bring when they believe in God enough to actually act it out in the lives of others.

So that’s what I tried to do at Sango last night. Such a delightful group of people, although they were not identical to any gathering I had ever been in! Similarities exist, but differences persist. Someone has to evolve. I don’t mind being the first one.

So humor, intelligence and mercy are the keys to the one hundred and seventy-nine times I have been blessed to impart my little dab of talent to folks across the country this year.

H (humor) I (intelligence) and M (mercy), which stands for Him–is the best way, I believe,  to convey to others how generous and loving our God truly is. Because if God isn’t humorous, intelligent and merciful–well, pardon the redundancy … God help us all.

Of course, it may actually end up being about sharing humor, enlightenment (which is like intelligence) and respect (close to mercy).  That would be HER. You know … in case the King of Heaven is really the Queen.  Just covering all my bases.

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Here comes Christmas! For your listening pleasure, below is Manger Medley, Jonathan’s arrangement of Away in the Manger, which closes with him singing his gorgeous song, Messiah.  Looking forward to the holidays with you!

 

Jonathan sings “Let”

 

Jonathan Sings “Spent This Time”

 

Jonathan and his partner, Janet Clazzy, play “The Call”