Our personal Jihad

A Cherokee elder was teaching his children about life.He said,"A terrible fight is going on inside me.It is a fight between two wolves.

One is of joy, love, hope, kindness and compassion.

The other is of fear, anger, cynicism, indifference and greed.

The same fight is going on inside of you and every other person, too."

The children thought and then one asked, "Which wolf will win?"

The elder replied, "Whichever one you feed."

This is the great inner struggle mentioned in the stories of the Mystics, Jesus' experience in the desert, and the Jihad of Islam. This inner struggle is what separates us from ourselves. It is the practice of melding them into one, where we find inner peace and connectedness with our Creator.

© 2010 by Becky Benes
www.onenessoflife.com

Feeding the Hungry

Today I was blessed to spend the day feeding the hungry with the Peace Ambassadors. In all faith traditions, we are called to feed the hungry.

Most of us think this to be the obvious, feeding those without food. But I believe there are those among us who are spiritually hungry or actually starving.

Volunteering and reaching out to those in need is not only feeding the physically hungry but its feeding all those who are spiritually hungry.

The joy experienced at the soup kitchen today was phenomenal. As we laughed, cooked, served, washed dishes, we smiled, sang and danced. Our spirits and hearts were filled to overflowing. This is the magic of love, this is the magic of service to others. Those who serve are truly those being served.

© 2010 by Becky Benes
www.onenessoflife.com