Two Wolves (Story)

There is a beautiful story that possibly originated by the Cherokee People. There are two versions that I've found.
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An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. 
 
"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight 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. 

"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 thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?" 

The old Cherokee smiled and simply replied, "The one you feed." 

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An old 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 so 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. 

"But the other wolf, ah! 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 youth 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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~ESA

From Tears to Tools

Two correspondents are dealing with judgmental people, in particular ones that feel that it is their right and responsibility to tell others how to live. Sadly, there are some who believe that if people do not follow their particular religious beliefs and/or practices, they are "damned." I've heard the frustration and tears from those attacked, and offer some tools.

To the Judges, remember: "Judge not lest you be judged." If you tell anyone else to toe the line of a particular law, YOU will be the one accountable for every law, from shellfish and polyester, to burnt sacrifices at the Temple in Jerusalem at the appropriate time and date. Instead, I plead with you: Love and Forgive. For in doing so, you are also Forgiven.

This post, however, is addressed primarily to those who suffer from judges.

We cannot change or control how another thinks or acts. We can only change how we respond to that person. I will acknowledge that this can be hard, particularly when that person is a friend, spouse, or family member. They know how to push our buttons, and can hurt us more deeply.

In every situation we encounter, there is only one decision that needs to be made: Do we want to share God's Love, or do we want to be right? One speaks to the spirit; the other to the ego.

When angry, frustrated or upset, we speak and act through our ego. Only an ego can talk to another ego, and they do not communicate at all.

The ego insists that we fight, defend, issue "pre-emptive strikes" in the name of defense, and that we are right and all others are wrong. My ego even had the gall to tell me that Yeshua/Jesus Himself is wrong! That's a pretty highly-inflated mindset we can have.

But we are not in our right mindset when we think like that. The ego is also how the adversary /devil/negativity influences our minds and skews our perceptions. So we need to learn to be more spirit-minded.

While WE cannot change a person's perspective, God can. Thus we should pray in the silence of our heart, and be patient, allowing God to work things out in Divine ways and timing. There's a much bigger picture than we see.

The reason I add "in the silence of our heart" is that people toss into a heated argument, "I will pray for you." Or better yet, "God make this person UNDERSTAND that (s)he is wrong!" Even with good intentions, this only triggers more anger and defensiveness.

We should also pray for ourselves; God helps us think with the right mindset (spirit vs. ego) when we ask.

If we find that we cannot get into the right mindset, especially if the other person knows just how and when to hit those hot buttons, there is another simple tactic we can use.

We need to see the other person through God's eyes. Our ego tells us they are wrong, judgmental, rude, etc. Our spirit sees that at least one perception has been skewed; perhaps both, as it takes two to argue.

God looks upon the person and sees a beloved son or daughter.

While the image to the left comforts when we face life's challenges, it can also be a tool. When someone hurts, angers or frustrates us, we can picture that person in God's arms too.

It's amazing how this changes heart, mind and perspective.

The human mind is capable of a lot more than most understand. We can use it to harm one another, or help one another. We choose between spirit-mindset and ego-mindset.

When someone attacks me, saying how their way is the only way, I try to step back and see how God views this person. They are loved. They may be perceiving through the ego at the moment. But they are loved. So I offer my prayers to God and love to that person.

Let go; Let God
It's in better Hands
~ESA

Two Wolves

There is a beautiful story that I'd like to share you. I'm not certain of the origin, but credit has been given to the Cherokee People. There are two versions that I've found.

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An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life.

"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight 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.

"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 thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

___________________________________________________________

An old 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 so 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.

"But the other wolf, ah! 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 grandson 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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~ESA

To Speck

While responding to tweets a few days ago, I found a nugget of meaning in a typo. The tweet read: 

2PETER 1:21 Or because they wanted to PROPHESY it was the HOLY SPIRIT who MOVED the PROPHETS to SPECK from GOD.

Considering the roll of tweets that proceeded this, the author clearly meant to indicate that the Spirit would move the prophets to SPEAK on behalf of God.

The typo, however, may have actually been divinely inspired, revealing a whole new meaning. It starts with the ones "who WANT to prophesy," not those whom God chose to prophesy. There is a difference. When one is called, one has the decision to accept or not. But when WE are the ones to initiate the idea and solely make the decision that we want to prophesy, we have just about as much success as the majority of applicants for American Idol.

God must make the first move.

With this in mind, I read the rest: The "Holy Spirit … moved the prophets to speck from God." In other words, the Spirit knocked the chip off the wannabe prophets' shoulder and gave them a true perspective of our position with God. While it's true that we are God’s children; we are not God. We are merely specks in comparison.

Thus when WE make the decision to prophesy, the Spirit of Truth knock our self-image from God – to speck.

I love typos sometimes

There are nuggets hidden in the lines.

~ ESA

Images: from the internet; sources unknown.

Jealousy Bug

This morning, I was bitten by the jealousy bug. I swung by Twitter, where I saw several group responses (including my username), and worked my way down to the initial tweet. It was a blogpost, for which my name was included in a previous request.

Someone has gotten others around the world to pray for America for a two-week session. Each day he posts something of prayer. Friday, he tweets to this group: "if God leads 2 a Prayer focus for this, Let me know and I will add it to the 14 Day prayer blog and you will get the mention. I need Prayer Focus/Bible verse too"

There is a lot of hatred and animosity over several differences of opinion in the US; it jumps to a new intensity within election season. Last time, someone was shot - literally - over it. So, as we are praying for America, its leaders, voters and people in general, my focus has been on establishing more Peace, forgiveness and compassion for each other. I want to erase all the hatred and dividing lines, helping others to see each other as sisters and brothers.

So, I gathered several bible passages that seemed to embody this sentiment of my soul. I sent a DM (Twitter direct message) to him and members of the group: Prayer focus 4 me:Mark 11:25~Luke 6:42~1 Cor 13:13~Numbers 14:19-20~Isaiah 43:25~Matt 6: 9-15~Luke 11:1-4~Hebrews 10:15-18 (sorry no rhyme)

While intention seemed clear to me at the time, I must admit in hindsight that it's a bit vague and may even appear accusatory. There was no direct correlation with the request above, just a string of bible passages.

Mark 11:25 - But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.

Luke 6:42 -  How can you think of saying, 'Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.

1 Corinthians 13:13 - Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love.

Numbers 14:19-20 - "In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked."

Isaiah 43:25 - I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

Matt 6: 9-15 - "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today your daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

Luke 11:1-4 - One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'"

Hebrews 10:15-18 - The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

So, reading the blog post this morning, I discovered a good introduction how there are people as far as South Africa praying for America these two weeks. There are several quoted prayers, but my ego had - by then - taken the reigns. I scrolled rapidly down the page, looking for my username. When I discovered it wasn't there, I became outraged, jealous that other names were there and that my own input had been seemingly ignored completely.

WHO DO I THINK I AM???

First, anything and EVERYTHING I do and say, especially under the username @JesusSister, should be for God's glory ALONE! Second, I was the one clearly in error for I never elaborated on the prayer intent, just callously rattled off bible verses and assumed the recipient would read my mind. Third, I never read the rest of that blogpost, or their prayers and intentions, but was focused solely on seeing if the spotlight fell onto my own name. I had become so wrapped up in myself. Me, me, ME!

How our proper priorities change and our world crumbles when we let the ego out to play. 
 

I am ashamed...