Two Wolves

In the summer of 2004, my wife and I spent a week living on a Blackfeet Indian reservation in western Montana.  We were members of a volunteer project sponsored by a national organization that gives a helping hand to needy communities.  It was a little like CPC's High School Mission trips, except ours was not church-sponsored.

We spent time with some very friendly Blackfeet Indian families, and were invited to their community meetings.  On one occasion, a tribal elder shared a lesson I still remember, even to this day.  But, could this lesson really be relevant to any of us ---- we live so far from the reservation?

          "An old Indian grandfather said to his grandson who came to him with

          anger at a friend who had done him an injustice .  .  .  .  'Let me tell 

          you a story.'

          I, too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken too much,

          with no sorrow for what they do.  But hate wears you down, and does

          not hurt your enemy.  It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy 

          would die.  I have struggled with these feelings many times."

          He continued .  .  . ."It is as if there are two wolves inside me.  One is

          good and does no harm.  He lives in harmony with all around him, and 

          does not take offense when no offense was intended.  He will only fight 

          when it is right to do so, and in the right way.  He saves all his energy for

          the right fight.

          But the other wolf, ahhh.  He is full of anger.  The littlest thing will set him

          into a fit of temper.  He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason.  He

          cannot think because his anger and hate are so great.  It is helpless anger,

          for his anger will change nothing.

          Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of

          them try to dominate my spirit."

          The boy looked intently into his grandfather's eyes and asked .  .  . "Which

          one wins, Grandfather?"

          The grandfather smiled and quietly said .  .  . "The one I feed."

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Feed the love within you and your anger will starve to death!

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These thoughts are brought to you by CPC's Adult Spiritual Development Team, hoping to encourage you to pursue some personal growth this year at CPC.

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