It came to me that reform should begin at home, and since that day I have not had time to remake the world.

(Will Durant, Historian, 1885-1981)

A tale of Two Wolves:

An elder teaching his grandson, told him about a battle that goes on inside people. “The battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thought awhile, then asked, “Which wolf wins, Grandfather?”

“The one you feed,” the elder summarized the wisdom.

Timing is everything we’re told. Hmmm?

Strange that tale came when the new Conservative government’s first budget was being tooted by some, hooted by others of the chattering class, the new opposition, and especially all the groups whose palms weren’t crossed.

How long will it be before we must decide, again, which party, or government, fed, or is feeding, the right wolf?

Or is the whole Canadian political game just a bunch of Parthian shots back and forth across the floor of our House?

A Parthian shot, I just learned, is a phrase with a fascinating beginning. Parthians, historians tell us, were natives of Parthia, an ancient country in southwest Asia, and they were excellent archers. Their specialty was firing arrows while in, or pretending to be in, retreat, which disrupted the enemy forces.

A Parthian shot has become a hostile remark made in departing, and they’re all masters at that are they not?  

It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor. (Seneca)

The Eye of the Bird …

In ancient times, it is told, there was a master archer who taught archery to others. Skyro was a boy who wanted to be the best archer in the world, so he went to learn from the master.

“Look at where you want your arrow to go, nowhere else,” the master taught. “Think only of what you want your arrow to do.”

Skyro practised more than the others, even at night shooting at candles, while the others fed the other wolf. The master arranged a competition as his final lesson.

A clay bird in a tree was their target, and as each boy approached to shoot, the master asked, “What do you see in front of you?”

The first replied, “I see the sun, the clouds, the trees.” He missed the clay bird.

The second replied, “I see the tree, the branches, the leaves.” He too missed.

The third said, “I see the bird, its legs, its wings.” He grazed the wings of the bird.

Skyro was next to shoot. His reply was simple: “I see the eye of the bird.”

“What else?” the master asked.

“Nothing. I only see the eye of the bird.” He released his arrow. It pierced the eye of the clay bird.

So did any of the Tory budgets 28 tax cuts hit the eye of your bird?

It surely isn’t true is it, that the Tories have kept more of their promises in their first 90 days than the Liberals did in their last 90 months?

As one journeys through life and the shadows begin to fall eastward one reaches the solemn conclusion that too much of the world’s wisdom is uttered, and too little lived. (Bob Edwards).

Ask mom and she’ll be there …

One day a small child tried to lift a stone. It was too heavy, she couldn’t do it.

Mom was watching, and asked, “Are you sure you’ve used all your strength?”

“Yes,” the child replied in a voice filled with annoyance.

“No,” said mom, “you have not. You haven‘t asked me yet.”

Moms are always there, holding out a helping hand, lifting you up when you falter, or fall, aren’t they?

For mom this may be a time to consider taking Bob Edward’s advice?

May the flowers of spring gladden every mom’s heart. We wish a happy day to every mother, everywhere. The recognition, and appreciation, can be many fold, though it will still fall short of the honour you deserve.