Each day has its own troubles but the Word of God counters it. In the letter to the Corinthians where St Paul says, ‘my grace is sufficient for you’ whereas it is found in the Bible where it is said, ‘He sent His Word and healed them’ Ps. 107:20. This quote comes to mind as I hear people complaining of the pains and aches they go through in their lives. When one is all the time focused and preoccupied with one’s health, one’s body starts seeking your attention and worst when someone inquires about your health, instead of praising God, we groan even at the slightest pin prick! It is as if saying such as the one in the parable: ‘The one you feed’
The grandfather was talking with his grandson saying, “In life, there are two wolves inside of us which are always at battle. One is the good wolf which represents things like kindness, bravery, love, joy, peace, hope, serenity, humility, forgiveness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith, whose end results are health and wholeness in spite of challenges in life.”
“The other is the bad wolf which represents things like fear, hatred, anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, unforgiveness, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego and its end results are sickness, diseases, aches and pains,” grandfather said.
The grandson stops and thinks about it for a second, then he looks up at his grandfather and says, “Grandfather, which one wins?” The grandfather replies, “The one you feed.” No doubt, surely ‘the one you feed more grows stronger’.
In any case, even when some thoughts lurk over our mind and we dwell on them we end up rather relaxed but more enraged. So it is a reflection on the personal and outer battles that people face. The battle between good and evil, health and sickness, between the path we choose and the one that is chosen for us.
The battles that one fights or face are more related to the physical health issues where lakhs of rupees go in the drain though these issues crop up due to the mental and emotional bottled up stress.
It might or could be the path we choose for us and thus get stuck in it. However, our acquaintance with the little library of books called the Bible and the Word in it is certainly, a recourse, a remedy and pain killer to address our ailments claiming the treasures or promises given by God. Jeremiah 30, 17 says, “I will restore health to you and your wounds I will heal”. While St. Paul encourages us saying, “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf” (Phil. 1: 29).
So, this doesn’t mean that we neglect our health nonetheless we need to know where to draw the lines as the book of Sirach instructs us, “Give the physician his place, for the Lord created him”.
The parable of the two wolves exposes the good and evil that lives within us. It discloses how we ourselves are responsible for the state in which we are or live. The path or plans that I chose to live rather than claim the plan which is spelled in Jeremiah 29: 11 “I have plans for you, plans for your welfare and not for destruction”.
Therefore, let’s feed ourselves with that which gives or brings real inner peace, joy, happiness and satisfaction.
