One day the old grandfather was sought by his grandson, who was angry at a friend who had offended him.

        The wise old man calmed the kid down and said affectionately:

        Let me tell you a story.

        In the past, I myself felt a lot of hate for those who offended me so much, with no regrets. However, hate corrodes our intimacy and does not hurt our enemy. It is the same as if you drank poison and wanted your enemy to die.

        Many times I have fought against such feelings.

        The grandson listened with attention to his grandfather's words. And he continued: It is as if two wolves live inside me. One is good. He never hurts anybody. He lives in harmony with everybody and never gets offended.

        He will fight only when it is right to do so, always in the righteous way. But, the other wolf, oh!, this one is filled with rage.

        Even the smallest unpleasant things can easily make it burst into rage attacks! It is constantly fighting everybody for no reason at all. Its irrationality never lets it change anything!

        Sometimes it is hard to cohabit with the two wolves inside me, because they both try to dominate my Spirit.

        The boy looked deeply into his grandfather's eyes and asked:

        And which one wins, grandpa?

        The grandfather smiled and answered in a low voice:

        The one which I feed more frequently.

        How about you? Which of your two wolves have you been feeding more frequently?

        The illustration of the wolf is a significant one for it shows to what degree our animal instincts can influence our actions.

        While human beings do not develop all the virtues that will elevate them to the category of superior Spirits, there will always be in their intimacy a little of irrationality. And this inner struggle will shape up the day of tomorrow, depending on which side has been fed the most.

        Sometimes, a simple unreflected attitude or even a single unhappy action can often bring us bitter consequences for a long time.

        Paul, the great apostle of Christianity, has identified this intimate fight very well when he said: For what I do is not the good I want to do; but the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing.

        He got angry every time he was dominated by his old self, leaving aside the new self he wished to be. Paul opened his heart and left us this great lesson: It is necessary to persevere.

        We have to stop feeding the thirsty and obsessed wolf of revenge and anger that still finds vitality in our intimacy. It shall then disappear once and for all and the new man we wish to become will blossom.

        In this way, we will be able to say one day - not too far away from now - the very same words the apostle Paul said after defeating himself: I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

        However, in order for us to get there, we have to engage in many inner battles, so that the teachings and examples of Jesus, our great Master, become significant to us to a level to which it becomes the driving power that impel our thoughts and acts.

* * *

        Paul from Tarsi renounced many things so that he could follow Jesus.

        He who was one of the first pursuers of the Christians in honor of his religious faith, after seeing Jesus by the doors of Damascus, became His faithful follower until the last days of his life.

        But, for that, there were times when it was necessary for him to silence the wild inner animal that tried to prevail.

        It was necessary to renounce, leaving the pride aside and bearing his cross to follow the bright steps of the Master of Nazareth.

Spiritist Moment Team, based on an internet text, without mention of the author.
March 14 2008.