We never know how much our rage and anger can affect us. Not to mention how much it can affect those we love.
While doomscrolling Facebook one day, my wife showed me the story of Slobodan “Boban” Janković. He had played 326 games of professional basketball over 12 seasons. Then, he let rage and anger overtake him.
On April 29th, 1993, Janković made the worst decision of his life. Janković’s team was 8 minutes away from the end of a crucial playoff game. The score was 56-50. Janković was being guarded by another player when he was able to take and make a shot. The basketball went into the basket, and he believed the game was set.
Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash
That was until the referee called a foul. The basket was no good. The points had been denied.
Janković reacted to what he deemed a bad call. His anger and rage took over. What happened next changed his life forever…
Don’t Bring Your Rage And Anger Into The New Year
After the call, Janković smashed his head into the cement blocks supporting the basketball backboard. Immediately, he fell to the floor. A pool of blood began to surround him.
He was in trouble.
While choking on his own blood, he called for a teammate to move him. His life was never the same.
Janković became paralyzed from the neck down. He had fractured his neck vertebrae, damaged his spinal cord, and was paralyzed.
Ouch… All of this was because Janković let his anger get the best of him during a heated game. He lived out the rest of his life, 13 years, confined to a wheelchair. He never played another game of basketball. He never walked another step.
In the heat of the moment, we can let our anger get the best of us. We can act out in rage when things don’t go right. However, we rarely consider the consequences of our actions.
Janković sure didn’t. He never thought he would wind up paralyzed. He never thought he wouldn’t be able to walk or play basketball again.
We need to think through our actions before we act out in unholy anger.
Consider the following when you’re upset:
- Will I be proud of my actions in the morning?
- How will my actions impact my team members, family, and friends?
- Is my reaction Christ-like?
- Do I want my children to react this way?
- What could happen if I don’t chill out?
We must pause to consider the impact of our actions on those around us. And even on ourselves. Our actions can have a long-lasting impact.
In Colossians 3, Paul tells us what we must put away. Do you know what he said? In verse 8, we are told:
But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
If we’re to be Christian leaders, we have to put away unholy anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language. Think about that…Do these words describe how you react when you’re upset? When you’ve been involved in a raw deal?
If so, it’s time to put away the rage and anger. Especially as we enter into the new year.
So many people make New Year’s Resolutions. I want you to consider making one that will make your life so much better. Resolve to not bring rage and anger into the new year.
Try it. See how much it improves your life.
