PMS or passion?

After my passionate rant the other day, Trace kiddinglly asked if I was having PMS. The answer was no, and although I know she was joking, I can see why someone could have thought that.

So tell me, how is it you all are able to keep a level head when discussing something you are passionate about? I can't remember ever seeing Grace, or Cindy, or Trace, or TrailLady, Pam (well, maybe Pam ;) or most other bloggers I know, lose their cool. That's not to say you guys don't lose it, but you don't advertise it on your blogs.

How do you deal with righteous anger and frustration at the church, your experiences with people in the church, or the fact that God has let things get so out of whack? When you write a post about soemthing that is a "bee in your bonnet", how do you keep from coming across as having PMS?

I guess in some ways I wear my heart on my blog. I don't have a problem with the passion I display, that's just me. Now, I'm not trying to make excuses for myself by saying "I can't help the way I am", because I know I can choose to be calm and rational, I just choose not to.

In a couple weeks, we are having dinner with some friends of ours, one of whom serves on the council at our ex-church. (I am honestly truly able to love people who are still there, even if I don't love the church as an entity). I am so tempted to take that article and ask him point-blank to explain to me how a church with a six-million annual budget is clearly proud of the fact that they spend a whole 8% of their budget on outreach. Don't get me wrong, I'm not holding this friend responsible in any way, but I'm hoping he will have some insight into these figures. Maybe there is a way that it makes sense, maybe there is a reasonable explanation.

But I don't think I will ask him, because I am (obviously) so passionate I would likely come across angry, possibly put him on the defensive, and maybe alienate him entirely. I don't want to look like a spoiled brat, I want to look like an adult who truly cares about this state of things. So unless I am able to rein myself in, I am not sure I will go there.

So, again, how do you guys keep it together when someone or something has really got your goat? Do you lose it like I do, but just not blog about it, or do you really manage a mature attitude?

[PS Trace: I just want you to know that I liked that you made that comment, please don't think I have a probelm with it. It made me laugh.]