Our Demons

People sometimes perceive me as avoiding confrontations or conflict... or "issues". That's not true at all, in fact just the opposite. But I can understand that some people's perception of how I do things may lead them to that.
Aside from the fact that throughout most of my life I have come to find few arguments worth the effort, and even less of them productive to anythng in the long run. (Play the Eagles: "Get Over It" here...). As I think about it, I go back to a story which was first told to me around 1970; a story I brushed off at the time, but which stayed with me nonetheless.
It begins with a man who left his home to study. This was no short process for him to achieve, and the man was gone for some time. When he came home, he found that his home had been taken over by demons. The people of his village warned him of the predicament, and told him that no one had gone near his home for some time.
The man knew he could enter his home with no problem. Demons, you know, will never attack head on. They will do everything in their power to scare one into retreating, running away, or hiding, at which time they will stab you in the back.
As he entered his home, the demons began to scream and run by him with teeth bared and talons extended. The man responded with the words, "Welcome to my home !". At this many of the demons disappeared. Demons are a shallow lot, most of them are sincere cowards themselves and disappear at any sign of confrontation or approachment.
As the remaining demons continued to carry on, but with more ferocity, he began to sing to them. A calming, serene song of understanding and acceptance and love. This disposed of all but one of them.
The one remaining demon, the most vicious and mean of the bunch, was the biggest, most powerful of all. His fangs and claws were the longest and sharpest of any. His eyes were full of bloodlust as the man approached him.
This demon screamed with a fury unheard of, and his mouth flared open wide and fury raged from his heart.
The man stopped, looked the demon directly in the eye, then bowed to the demon and put his head in the demon's mouth.
The demon disappeared. The home, at once, become peaceful, and the man went on to live comfortably.


The point of this story is that we, and our demons are part of the same environment, and to win the demons over, we have to accept them, become part of them, and change them as we change ourself. We cannot change anyone else unless they want to be changed.

For those of you who take this story in the literal sense, play "Get Over It" again and ponder the idea that the Bible and other religious works are "parables", not necessarily facts. .