Two Wolves (06/29/2025)

This past weekend, I was reminded of my sister, Betty, and her fondness for the Cherokee parable of the two wolves. It hung on her kitchen alcove wall, and she frequently looked at it to remind her of the importance of choice in our journey.

According to the legend, an elderly Cherokee chief told his grandson about the battle that goes on inside everyone. “My son,” he said, “there is a battle within each of us between two wolves. One is evil and produces anger, jealousy, greed, envy, self-pity, resentment, false pride, arrogance, and lies. The other is good and produces kindness, empathy, generosity, compassion, joy, peace, hope, humility, faith, and love.”

The youth pondered his grandfather’s words and then asked, “Which wolf wins?”

The grandfather answered simply, “The one you feed.”

This past week, as I was traveling to Sioux City, Iowa to visit my mother and family of origin, my sister, whom I miss, was very much on my mind. And this parable kept coming to mind. I witnessed many along the way who were helping others, who were kind and generous, compassionate and loving. Their expressions were joyful and full of peace. And I also encountered those who were not, who were instead resentful, arrogant, manipulative, and angry. And the lesson re-emerged from my memory. And I found myself asking which wolf am I feeding?

The LORD’s gift of life to each of us comes with choices. The LORD gave us a free will which we exercise every moment of our lives. This Cherokee parable reminded me of this truth and of Christ’s exhortation to us to choose the loving path. He walked among us. He knows of the struggles of this world. He gave us the beatitudes (Matthew 5). He called us to live our love out loud with one another.

This day, as we begin a new week, let us consider our loving Savior’s life and his example to us to choose love. We have a choice. It is ours to make daily. Which wolf will we feed?

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.