The Boiling Point

The boiling (anger) point of water is 212 degrees Fahrenheit or 100 degrees Celsius.

Recently, I took a small saucepan and filled it halfway with cold water. I then placed the saucepan on one of the gas burners on the stove and turned the heat to medium high. With the excitement of a little boy, I stood watch and waited. I was going to boil water!

First, I noticed tiny bubbles lining the bottom of the pan. Next there were small bubbles appearing along the top water line. Still, I waited. The rest of the world was doing its thing. My eyes were glued on the water.

Within three minutes the water was boiling. Small bubbles had turned to monstrous ones. They kept coming and coming. It seemed there was no end to the bubbles. Then, I turned the heat off.

Immediately the bubbles ceased. The water was clear. The little boy in me persisted. I turned the heat back on. Boom! Bubbles everywhere. It didn’t take three minutes. It didn’t take three seconds. As soon as the heat was turned back on, the water boiled.

Again, I turned the heat off. The boiling ceased. Interesting. If there is no boiling, the water must be cold. Ouch! My finger hurts. The water was scalding hot. But no boiling happening that I could see.

I turned the heat on. Immediate bubbles boiling. I turned the heat off. Immediate calm. How fun. I tried this a few more times. Once I waited a while before turning the heat back on. It didn’t take long to boil since the water was still hot.

I noticed after the initial boiling process, every time I turned the heat off, there was no sign of the water being hot, lukewarm or cold. I either had to turn the heat on or touch it (lesson learned the first time) to see changes in the water.

I went to the Internet to study boiling water. I know. Exciting. I found out that boiling water for too long could be toxic. Who would have known?

Some people live their life just below the boiling point. To look at them, you might think everything was okay. But, turn the heat on and the anger erupts almost immediately. Either internal or external.

Caustic remarks, angry retorts, clenched fists, bulging veins, facial contortions and fresh holes in the wall are some of the signs of someone living just below the boiling point.

Dr. Mercola, states that our automatic anger response leads to health problems like: headaches, digestive imbalances, insomnia, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, skin problems, heart attack and stroke.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) admits that 85% of all diseases have a strong link to your emotional state. Other experts believe the real percentage is higher.

Henry Bosch writes: “If a rattlesnake is cornered, it can become so frenzied that it will accidentally bite itself with its deadly fangs. In the same way, when a person harbors hatred and resentment in his heart, he is often hurt by the poison of his own malice. He thinks he is injuring his enemies by displaying his wrath, but the real harm is inflicted deep within his own soul. Nothing is ever gained by giving way to the dark passion of bitterness and anger.”

Solomon wrote these words in Proverbs 14:29 (NLT), “People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.”

James 1:19b-20 (NLT) says, “You must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.”

Scripture has much to say on the subject of anger. It is not wrong to be angry. It is what we do with that anger that can create problems with God and mankind.

If you find yourself living just below the boiling point, take a step back. Turn down the heat. Follow the advice of James. Listen. Think. Speak. Do each in slow motion.

As hard as this is to initiate, the benefits are well worth it.

Don’t believe me? Prove me wrong.

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