A Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson about how he felt. He said, “I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful, angry one. The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one.” The grandson asked him, “Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?” The grandfather answered: “The one I feed.”

We are living in an urgent moment of history. We must decide which wolf to feed.

Our human species has lived over a couple of million years in harmony with nature, but over the last few hundred years that relationship has dangerously deteriorated. American naturalist Wendell Berry said: “Whether our politicians and we know it or not, nature is party to all our deals and decisions, and she has more votes, a longer memory, and a sterner sense of justice than we do.”

The Native American culture acknowledges our relationship and interdependence with the earth and with all living things. They also are inclined to follow the wisdom of balancing nature as a resource and the protection and respect of nature.

Two American founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, were greatly influenced by the Iroquois tribe. They admired the Iroquois Confederacy that sought cooperation and mutual protection not only within their community, but also between all peoples.

An Iroquois legend tells of a member of their tribe named Peacemaker. Peacemaker helped to unite separate peoples and communities in the name of peace and respect. Peacemaker knew the way of living in the present would affect the future indefinitely. He told the leaders of the communities: “Think not forever of yourselves, O chiefs, nor of your own generation. Think of continuing generations of our families, think of our grandchildren and of those yet unborn, whose faces are coming from beneath the ground.”

In this time of apparent disaster and evident challenge, we need a story that opens our eyes, our senses and our hearts. We seem to like stories and movies that include a crisis, a love scene and may even provoke a tear or two. But we always desire the possibility of a happy ending.

The story we need now must be universal. It must give us the courage to be bold, to be respectful, and to listen with compassion. This story will inspire us to meet the challenges we face, and will remind us to be grateful as Americans.

You are invited to be a hero in this current story. As Thanksgiving approaches, we can choose to give thanks, and to feed the compassionate wolf. Please attend

“Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream,” a presentation about the changing world and how we can make a difference.

The presentation will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Natchez Historical Foundation. It is free, and there is an hour lunch break. Free lunch is included. Call 601-442-5355 to reserve your place.

Christina Johnson is a Natchez resident.