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Reflection of the Month - February 2007
Feeding the Wolf Inside
An old Cherokee teaches his grandson about life. “A fight
goes on inside me,” he tells the boy. “It’s a terrible fight
like the fighting of two wolves. One is evil and the other is
good. And this same fight goes on inside of you and inside of
every person.”
The grandson thought about it for a few minutes and then asks,
“Which wolf will win, grandfather?”
The old and wise Cherokee simply replied, “The one we feed.”
This story hits to the core of every person. Which wolf will
I/we/you feed? The evil wolf can represent many things: anger,
envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, resentment,
unforgiveness, superiority, hate, etc. (You fill in the blank
for yourself.) The good wolf, on the other hand, can represent
joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, patience,
generosity, empathy, truth compassion, courage, faith, etc.
Paul the apostle, though he never heard the story of the
Cherokee, knew something about feeding the wolf within. In
writing to the church at Colosse he writes about this struggle
between the two selves when he writes about the new self that
comes in Christ. In contrast to the old self he writes, “…put on
a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience; bearing with one another and forgiving one another…
and above all else put on love…” (Colossians 3:12-14)
February is generally regarded at the “love month.” During this
time, may we be challenged about the wolves we choose to feed.
May we be known for the love we show one another.
Chaplain David K. Mann
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