Sioux Indian Story

Author Unknown

My grandfather took me to the fish pond on the farm 
when I was about seven, and he told me to throw a 
stone into the water. He told me to watch the circles 
created by the stone. Then he asked me to think of 
myself as that stone person.

"You may create lots of splashes in your life but the 
waves that come from those splashes will disturb the 
peace of all your fellow creatures," he said.

"Remember that you are responsible for what you put 
in your circle and that circle will also touch many other 
circles. You will need to live in a way that allows the 
good that comes from your circle to send the peace of 
that goodness to others. The splash that comes from 
anger or jealousy will send those feelings to other circles. 
You are responsible for both."

That was the first time I realized each person creates 
the inner peace or discord that flows out into the world. 
We cannot create world peace if we are riddled with 
inner conflict, hatred, doubt, or anger. We radiate the 
feelings and thoughts that we hold inside, whether we 
speak them or not. Whatever is splashing around inside 
of us is spilling out into the world, creating beauty or 
discord with all other circles of life.

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