I’ve heard a story a few times now that has been attributed to several sources, from Billy Graham to Native American Folklore. While I don’t know the origin of the story, I really love the message. A version of the story is here:

An old man speaks with his grandson. “A fight is going on inside me,” he says to the boy.

“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thinks about it for a minute and then asks his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The old man simply replies, “The one you feed.”

There is a lot of judgement and hatred in the world today. With all the debates of racism, terrorism, gender equality, sexual equality; it seems that never a day passes that there isn’t a news article or feed regarding these forms of negativity. At the base of it all I believe there is one emotion, fear.  Whether it is fear of things that are different or new or unknown, the fear of being wrong or of being right; this fear seems to drive so many people.  And too often we feed the fear within ourselves and others with a “like” or a “share.”

What would happen if we started to feed the other “wolf”? If we seek out and embrace and share love, hope, charity, empathy, etc? What if we were to accept the failings in ourselves and others, to see that most people are just doing the best they can with the knowledge they have? What would fill the news and social media feeds then?

I don’t mean to paint a bleak picture of the world today, for all is not hatred and anger. But it certainly seems to be trending upwards. Let’s reverse the trend by starting within ourselves. Remember, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.”