Proverbs 29:22The source of strife is found in an angry heart, for sin surrounds the life of a furious man.Proverbs Daily is reader and listener-supported. Every post is free, but if you'd like to help spread the message and make the sacred positively contagious, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Just look for the word 'Upgrade' and click it! Thanks in advance.In 1985, August Wilson debuted his Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fences, part of his legendary series of 10 plays chronicling the African American experience across the decades. Set in the 1950s, Fences focused on Troy Maxson, a bitter former Negro League baseball player turned garbage man, who builds emotional and physical fences around himself and his family.It was first brought to Broadway with James Earl Jones in the lead—and you know his performance was thunderous and raw. Later, actors like Ossie Davis took the role on stage with powerful conviction. Then in 2010, Denzel Washington and Viola Davis starred in the Tony Award–winning play—and later brought it to the big screen in 2016, where Viola won an Oscar.There’s a line from the movie where Troy says:"Some people build fences to keep people out…and other people build fences to keep people in."Hmmm…When I look at Proverbs 29:22 and how it says:“The source of strife is found in an angry heart, for sin surrounds the life of a furious man.”I think about that character Troy, an old bitter person so at home with anger and fury, that they don’t realize that they’re locked in with constant strife and fenced in by their own sin. See, what offends you often reveals what still needs to be healed within you.Because fences, in the emotional sense, start out as barriers to unwanted pain, but can become prisons of unresolved pain. And if we’re not careful—our anger will build up a fence: And before long, we’re not keeping danger out—we’re keeping love from getting in.You ever see someone that’s just always into it with someone else? It doesn’t even matter, it’s like they live for the battle and don’t know how to put their weapons down and find peace. A person like this seems like a good ally to have because they’ll fight for you no matter what…but just as quick as fighting for you, you know they can just as quickly turn on you and fight you. Anger turns differences into dissension. Curiosity into criticism. Boundaries into battlegrounds. Angry hearted people abide in offense. They’ve made bitterness their home address.Now the Truth is:We’ve all got an angry side. And a grudge-holding side. A guarded side. As well as a generous side. A joyful side. A side that can just let things go and start all over again…So here’s the secret:Don’t let the worst of you get the best of you.Because the angry version of you will always build fences. And the wise version of you knows:Some fences are for protection…But others are prisons in disguise.🙏🏽 PrayerTear down every fence built by fear, pain, or pride.💡 Today’s Challenge:Pause today whenever you feel offended. Ask: Is this a boundary—or a fence I’m building out of anger? Then choose to respond, not react.About the AuthorFred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch📱Experience Proverbs Daily by Subscribing!Ready to receive daily wisdom directly on your phone?Go to proverbsdaily.org for the app or just click that Subscribe button right now!Be Wise and Be Well...peace.Thanks for reading Proverbs Daily! This post is public so feel free to share it.
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