The One You Feed
Brothers and sisters, this time of year, many of us find ourselves on a razor thin edge – long lines, traffic, fighting for that perfect gift. It has a way of fueling the ugly parts of our lives. The season which is supposed to be filled with “comfort and joy” is sometimes filled with other not-so-savory emotions. Charlie Brown expresses his feelings by saying, "I know nobody likes me. Why do we have a holiday season to emphasize it?" While Ebenezer Scrooge offers the strong sentiment, "Every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.” Now I know that none of you could be accused of being a Grinch, but it is fair to ask ourselves why this season that is supposed to be filled with comfort and joy is so often filled with angst and sorrow.
Perhaps it is worth our time to remember the story told by a grandfather about the power of what we “feed” in our lives. A young boy came to his grandfather, filled with anger at another boy who had done him an injustice. The old grandfather said to his grandson, "Let me tell you a story. I, too, at times, have felt a great anger for those who have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But I have learned in my life that hate wears you down, and hate really does not hurt your enemy. Hate is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times. It is as if there are two wolves inside me; one wolf is good and does not harm. He lives in harmony with all around him, he is grateful for what he has and does not take offence when no offence was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way. But the other wolf is full of anger and greed. 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, because his anger will change nothing. Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, because both of the wolves try to dominate my spirit." The boy looked intently into his grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which wolf will win, Grandfather?" The old man smiled and said, "The one I feed."
This story reminds me of the teaching of Jesus: “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45 ESV) What do you treasure these days? What are you feeding? What you hold close can make all the difference in the world this season.
Expectantly,
Shawn
