14/06/2026
There once was a very old and wise man, so old in fact that no one knew how old he actually was. Most days the old man was to be found sitting on a well-worn stool under the shade tree in the centre of his village. His wisdom was renowned and people came from miles around to seek his counsel. One day a small boy came and sat at the old man’s feet and waited politely to be acknowledged. ‘How can I help you child?’ The old man asked.
‘Father’, the child responded respectfully. ‘I have a question that troubles me.’
‘Speak,’ encourage the old man.
‘Why do people do bad things,’ asked the child. ‘I can understand why bad people do bad things, but why do good people do bad things? The child was building up momentum and hardly took a breath between sentences. ‘Why do I do bad things?’ The child lamented. ‘I don’t want to do bad things. I don’t mean to do bad things, but still I do.’
The old man waited to make sure the child had finally stopped talking before he answered. ‘Within each of us live two lions,’ answered the old man. ‘One lion is wise and noble and wants only peace and hope for us. The other lion is much different; it is always angry and never happy unless it is causing trouble. These two lions are constantly battling with each other to be at the front of our thoughts.’
The child pondered on this for a moment. ‘Father, which of the two lions is the strongest?’
‘The one that you feed will always be the strongest,’ answered the old man. ‘If you feed only the wise lion the angry lion will diminish as if it is asleep. The more you feed the wise lion the deeper the angry lion’s sleeps becomes. But always be alert because the angry lion is dormant but not dead. If we are rude and disrespectful, if we tell even the smallest of lies or take something that does not belong to us we would be feeding the angry lion. Leave these matters unresolved and soon the angry lion’s eyes are open, and it stands and stretches ready to do battle with the wise lion once more.’
The child looked up at the old man. ‘Father I am frightened by the angry lion.’
‘There is no need to fear child because both lions are subject to your will. Only you can decide which lion to feed. Feed the angry lion and it will lead you down a path of hopelessness and despair. Feed both lions and your world will be one of confusion and uncertainty. But feed the wise lion and you will know hope and happiness.
‘Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise.’ Ephesians 5:15