Turning Away Anger

Theme: We can control the outcome of arguments if we have self-control.

Bible Verse: A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)

Materials Needed:

• Large piece of cloth (e.g., sheet, towel, tablecloth)

• Egg

• Three volunteers

Bible Lesson

People have a natural desire to answer harsh words with more of the same: “He can’t get away with saying that, especially when I am right and he is wrong!” However, such heated arguments will only increase the problem instead of solving it. The proverb in this lesson gives a better approach: disarm your opponent by controlling your own emotions. There is no more effective strategy than listening to the other side of the issue and honestly trying to understand it. A gentle answer might include an apology or just a willingness to listen. This approach certainly reflects a Christlike spirit and is a positive testimony to others.

Science Activity

In this activity someone forcefully tosses a fresh egg at close range at a vertically suspended cloth held up by two brave volunteers. The bottom of the cloth is folded up to form a pocket, held in place by the volunteers. When the egg hits the loosely held cloth, there is enough “give” to safely slow down the egg without breaking it. The egg then slides harmlessly down the cloth and into the pocket below.

The egg could now be dropped onto a hard surface and broken to show that it is delicate and raw. The extended lesson is that a mishandled egg, like uncontrolled anger, has damaging results.

Science Explanation

The technique with the cloth is similar to playing catch with bare hands. As you catch the ball, you can move your hands with the ball as you receive it to spread out the impact time and lessen the sting of the catch. The longer the stopping time, the smaller the resulting force. Likewise, the sheet slows down the moving egg in a way that protects it from breaking.

A suspended cloth sheet with a pocket formed at the bottom will safely catch a tossed egg.

This slowing technique is the opposite of batting a ball. When a bat connects with a ball, the ball experiences a large force. As home run hitters know, one secret of success is a fast swing.

According to Newton’s second law of motion, the force needed to stop a moving object directly depends on how quickly the object is stopped. If an object strikes a hard surface, it may stop instantly and experience an enormous force. If the object can be decelerated more slowly, however, the force needed to stop it is greatly reduced.

Automobiles are designed with Newton’s second law of motion in view. The bumpers are designed to give in a collision, lengthening the impact time and also absorbing the blow. A car’s steering wheel and dashboard are also padded to lengthen impact time and thus soften bumps to the head. In an emergency, an airbag likewise protects a person during sudden deceleration.

Isaac Newton studied motion three centuries ago. He probably would have preferred that his conclusions be called God’s laws rather than Newton’s laws. He strongly believed that the Creator had established the rules of the physical world.