The people of the little Italian city of Gubbio are understandably very proud of their beautiful home. Then one night a "Shadow" comes out of the nearby woods and prowls the streets. In the morning the people of Gubbio find a mangled and gnawed dead body. This happens again and again. Finally an old woman says that she has seen a wolf on the streets at night. The terrified people decide to ask a holy man who has a reputation for being able to talk to animals for his help. They send a delegation to get St. Francis.

They have very specific ideas on what St. Francis should tell the Wolf. First, he should preach to him and remind him to obey the commandment against killing and to follow Christ's commandment about loving God and neighbors. And then, just in case, since a Wolf is, after all, a wolf, he should tell the Wolf to move someplace else ...

St.Francis goes into the forest to meet the strange Shadow, addressing it as "Brother Wolf." Then he returns to the town square. "My good people of Gubbio, the answer is very simple. You must feed your Wolf !" The people are furious, especially with the suggestion that this uninvited beast in their midst is somehow to be regarded as "their Wolf." But they do feed it, and the killing stops.

The Ancient Taoist Sage told me some time ago that this is what I personally must do with my anger, and the fears that cause it. Don't deny it... deal with it ! Or as my friend Thay, (from Viet Nam) would say: "Own it !" It is but your personal "crying baby"...your Shadow...

We all have "shadows" that enter our lives..."Go Towards the Light"...entreats the Ancient Taoist Sage. The Shadow is but proof of Lights presence !

The bottom line is : "We each have to learn to transcend all that holds us...all that binds us"...Shadows and all ! For in the words of Heraclitus:

"Much learning does not teach understanding !"

Deepest Peace

  Fred