“FEEDING THE GOOD WOLF”
“10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” (Romans 13:10-1, New American Standard, 1995)
No doubt, most of you have heard the story about the two wolves. There are variations of it scattered through various American Indian tribes.
My favorite version says that a young boy went to his grandfather for counsel because of a recurring dream the boy was having. In the dreams, two wolves were fighting to the death. One was brave, generous, and good. The other was vicious, indeed evil. Both were strong. The boy felt that both wolves were within himself.
The grandfather listened intently. After finishing his story about the dreams, the young boy asked, “Grandfather, which wolf will win?”
The grandfather replied, “Whichever one you feed.”
I know how to feed the evil wolf within me. I’ve had lots of experience. But, what do I do to feed the good wolf within me? I think I know that, too. It isn’t knowing that matters, however. It is doing.
So, what do I do to feed the good wolf inside me? Let me list a few things that work for me. Some are probably unique to me. Some may be universal. Other ways of feeding the good wolf may be helpful to some folks, but not to others. As we say in 12-step work, “Take what you like, and leave the rest.”
- Getting enough rest feeds the good wolf.
- Being active physically feeds the good wolf.
- Eating regular, properly portioned, healthy meals feeds the good wolf.
- Having good, clean fun feeds the good wolf.
- Listening to good music feeds the good wolf.
- Spending time with people I really like feeds the good wolf.
- Spending time outside feeds the good wolf.
- Helping others feeds the good wolf.
- Making lists and putting checkmarks by things I’ve done feeds to good wolf.
- Doing housework feeds the good wolf. (My wife would be justifiably pleased if I fed the good wolf in this manner a little more consistently.)
- Reading (or rereading) really good books, poems, and stories feeds the good wolf.
- Writing is another way of feeding the good wolf.
I think I’ll feed the good wolf a lot today! Writing and publishing this blog is one step.
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