Can you believe that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles aren’t teens anymore? They’re 35! Well, at least the first live action movie about them is 35. I saw it recently in the theater (yes the same day I saw Shin Godzilla…2 movie days are great!). My first time seeing it when I was a kid was with friends in a basement while our parents had Bible study upstairs.
The scene that stuck with me this time was Splinter’s discussion with Raphael.
My Master Yoshi’s first rule was… possess the right thinking. Only then can one receive the gifts of strength, knowledge, and peace. I have tried to channel your anger, Raphael, but more remains. Anger clouds the mind. Turned inward, it is an unconquerable enemy. You are unique among your brothers, for you choose to face this enemy alone. But as you face it, do not forget them. And do not forget me. I am here, my son.
Splinter in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990
Raphael has always liked to go off on his own and he doesn’t like asking for help. The scene above is vastly important for him in the movie but it is also important for us. We try too hard to do things on our own. Whether it is repentance or dealing with anger or other emotions. How does that work for us? I think we tend to struggle and fail often which just makes us want to keep life a solo act. But what shall we do?
We were made for community. God Himself is community in the form of the Trinity, a theological term for the mystery that God is both one being and three essences (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Don’t let anyone convince you that this is easy to grasp. We do not fully understand the concept of the Trinity and that is alright. We should expect an infinite being to be mysterious to finite beings. Since we are made in His image (see Genesis 1:26) we also need community. Jesus didn’t face things alone. He often went out to lonely places to pray and be with the Father. We also know that the Holy Spirit and the Father were present at His baptism. Jesus also had a group of 12 who traveled with Him, ate with Him, assisted Him and learned from Him.
Scripture gives us many instructions about helping each other. We are told to confess our sins to each other, to ask for help, to pray for each other.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16
Anger isn’t normally sin but what we do with our anger can be sin. Letting ourselves get out of control isn’t good. Earlier this year I was struggling with anger that was keeping me from sleeping. Boiling anger I had not experienced before. I was also experiencing symptoms of anxiety like lack of sleep and light chest pain. I had never had emotions like this before, so I met with the Pastor Emeritus from my church. Pastor Ralph used to be the lead pastor when I was a kid. He shared with me that anger is mostly a secondary emotion. It happens when our frustration builds up to where we get overwhelmed. The key is learning to deal with frustration before it gets to that point. A meeting with him didn’t completely fix what I was going through, but it helped me better understand what I was going through.
If you are being overwhelmed with negative emotions…be it anxiety, anger, fear, or frustration. Talk to someone. It might be your best friend, your pastor, a mentor or a family member. Maybe it isn’t you who is overwhelmed. Is there someone around you that needs support in dealing with these kinds of emotions?
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
Carrying each other’s burdens doesn’t need to be complicated. Just being present can be important. The turtles keep taking Raphael back in again and again. They don’t give up on him.