Faith vs Fear: Two Dogs Fighting

If you do a survey asking what people want most out of life, what do you think would top the list?

Happiness.  

It would definitely be up there, in any place, city, town or country that you choose.  Number one could also be wealth, success, fame, love or peace...but what would be the end result that we are looking for?  Many of us think that once we have love, success, money, etc that it would make us happy. (And isn't that concept a deep rabbit hole?)  

So it's arguable that that's what we're most about, happiness. Especially Trinis. (We're ranked amongst the friendliest, happiest people in the world, don't you know.)  So why, oh why, do humans continue to make choices that are destined to bring us to the exact opposite of what we say we want?

It can be puzzling. Any of us with children, especially teenagers, have intimate knowledge of the exasperation of trying to understand this.  Personally, I constantly have to reassure my wife, "Don't worry, their brains just aren't fully developed yet."  At least, children have an excuse.  As supposedly mature adults, what's ours?

     

One of the best expressions of that conflict going on inside of us, is given in a native american story called "Two Wolves Fighting" or "Two Dogs Fighting" depending on the version you are told.  We were first exposed to it in a recording of a workshop by the late Fr. Anthony DeMello, and later on we found a beautifully illustrated version of it in an issue of the Marvel comicbook, Daredevil. (Issue 435, February 2004, by David Mack)  

It goes as follows: (We have added some subtitles for your reading pleasure)    

The way the Chief told me, the story goes like this. 
This guy, I think it was another indian guy...he was a good guy, but I think he had some problems in the past. Maybe he got in trouble with the law a bit here and there....Maybe he had a rough childhood....Or maybe he fell in with the wrong crowd...Or maybe just in general felt like he wasn't living up to his potential for whatever reason.  

And in describing his inner struggles, he says to the Chief, "There are two dogs inside me.  One of the dogs is mean and evil.  The other dog is good."

"The mean dog fights the good dog all the time."

And when I heard that, I really understood this guy.  I knew that the one dog was like your dreams and good intentions.  He is full of purpose, and order.  
He maybe represents your respect for others and your respect for yourself.  Respect for what you can be, if you put your heart into it.

And the other dog?  He has no respect for anything. He's like a rabid beast.  Crazy, and self-indulgent.  
He blames everyone else for his sickness.  He lashes out at every opportunity.  He loves nothing but wallowing in the hot darkness of his anger.

So someone asks this guy, this indian guy, a question.

Someone asks him, "So which dog usually wins?"  
And the guy sort of looks down and thinks about it for a while.  He doesn't say anything for a long time.

And then, after a moment's reflection, he answers.

He says this.  He says; "The dog that wins, is the one that I feed the most."

Isn't that beautiful?  

It comes down to what we give most of our attention to, the dog that we feed the most.  After all, It is logical that whatever we feed, will grow.  Do you frequently find yourself feeling anxious or worried?  Possibly we should take a step back and ask ourselves, which dog are we feeding more in our lives?

Faith?...Or Fear?

Here is some quick food for thought about worrying.  
Please share you thoughts in the comments below!.