Sometimes you may come across individuals in life that are angry.  I don’t mean, someone you have said or done something to & anger was their reaction.  I am talking about someone who has an angry spirit. This person wakes up mad & goes to bed mad.  And all through the day, they continue to be mad. 

Smiling at them & asking them how they are, – that makes them mad. 

Minding your own business, that makes them mad. 

Acting like you care, that makes them mad. 

Not acting like you care, that makes them mad. 

The sight of you & you breathing in & out, that makes them mad. 

See my pattern here.  This post is about what to do if you encounter a mountain lion (an angry person).  By the end of this, you will know how to effectively handle a mountain lion.   I have done some research on mountain lions.  A United States Game & Fish Department had this to say:

What to do if you encounter a mountain lion–

Do not hike, jog or ride your bicycle alone in mountain lion country: Go in groups, with adults supervising children. – Keep children close to you: Observations of captured wild mountain lions reveal that the animals seem especially drawn to children. Keep children in your sight at all times. –

Do not approach a mountain lion: Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape. –

Do not run from a mountain lion: Running may stimulate a mountain lion’s instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If there are small children there, pick them up if possible so they don’t panic and run. Although it may be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion. –

Do not crouch or bend over: A person squatting or bending over looks a lot like a four-legged prey animal. When in mountain lion country, avoid squatting, crouching or bending over, even when picking up children. –

Appear larger: Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Again, pick up small children. Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. The idea is to convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you may be a danger to it. –

Fight back if attacked: Many potential victims have fought back successfully with rocks, sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools and their bare hands. Since a mountain lion usually tries to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the attacking animal.

One suggestion, about encountering a mountain lion, was to go in groups with adults, supervising small children.  If you have to be around an angry person, have other people around & keep small children close to you.  Like mountain lions, angry people, a lot of times, may not be encouraged if there are several people around. They may just go on their way.  Mountain lions don’t really like confrontation.  They do run away if given the chance. If you encounter an angry person, do your best to be with other people & keep your kids away from them, too.

What if you have done everything in your power to stay away from an angry person, but somehow you end up face to face with them?  Like encountering a mountain lion, make eye contact, smile, & slowly walk away.  Do not rush by or run.  This might agitate the angry person even more.  And ain’t nobody got time for a bunch of foolishness. 

Notice one of the tips are- Do NOT approach a mountain lion.  If you know a person is angry, don’t go around them.  There is no reason, I can think of, for you to put yourself through what they have going on. So, to the best of your ability- JUST STAY AWAY FROM THEM!

I used to wonder why Jesus talked about in the sermon on the mount, Matthew 5:3-7:27 being meek, being a peacemaker, etc.,.  Why would you want to be meek & a peacemaker with someone being so rude & mean?  That’s hard. However, as I have gotten older, I understand, it’s a good diffuser to anger.  Also, if we are in conflict with someone else, arguing, fussing, fighting, then we are taking away from our service to the Lord.  Our main goal is to serve God .  If we are wasting our time & energy being at odds with an angry person, we are robbing God of our time to serve Him.  And that, my friend, is sin.

I think Zig Ziglar said it best about hard to get along with people. 

“Life is too short to spend your precious time trying to convince a person who wants to live in gloom and doom otherwise. Give lifting that person your best shot, but don’t hang around long enough for his or her bad attitude to pull you down. Instead, surround yourself with optimistic people.”

My first knee jerk reaction, to people, is to be nice.  But once you have been nice, move on.  Let them wallow in whatever it is they have going on.  Don’t hang around & get marred down in it yourself.

And of course I love Dolly Parton’s quote,

“Get down off the cross, honey, because somebody needs the wood.” 

 Which to me means get over whatever it is, quit with the self pity.  The world doesn’t revolve around you.  Take care of your problems & stop looking for someone to feel sorry for you.  You are wasting your time when you are wallowing in self pity.  Take responsibilities for your angry behavior & get better.  And if you can’t get better, go get help.  Don’t make everyone else’s world full of misery, just because yours is.

It is mentally exhausting being around someone that is angry, all the time, about everything.  Everyone has problems.  Everyone has things they wish they did not have to face.  However, being thankful is a good place to start changing your life.  There is always, always, always, something to thank God for.  Humble yourself.  Count your blessings.  Make right what you can.  Then, move on.

I have heard mountain lions are solitary creatures, ready to pounce. Don’t be a mountain lion.  If you have wronged someone, make it right.  If everything & everyone is wrong, it might be time to start considering a change of heart.  Once you make a change in your attitude, things will begin to get better all around you.  God doesn’t want us to be angry & bitter.  However, it doesn’t take long for the devil to take a hold of our thoughts & motives. Before long, everyone is against us.  Or so Satan wants us to think. You can justify your reasons of being angry six ways to Sunday.  It still is sinful. 

James 1:19-20 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. v. 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

It still takes a mental & physical toll on you, as a person to stay so upset all the time.  If for nothing else, give up the anger for your well being.  

“A good way to have the last word, is to apologize.” .

I have enjoyed you coming by today.  I love having you stop in.  I thank God for you & that you gave me a little piece of your time today.  I know I was on my soap box a bit.  But that’s why I have this blog.  To have an outlet to just get stuff out there.  I hope you don’t mind.  I do think it very necessary to pray for angry people.  They need prayer the most.   I wish you a wonderful week.  As for me, I have to go now, because I should be washing clothes.