Two squirrels

     I'm sitting here dangling my feet in the Rogue river, thinking about the two squirrels I saw on my way up Table Rock tonight. I watched them basking atop a boulder soaking in the last remnants of today's blistering sun, rubbing their grubby little paws together as if I weren't even there. As I watched them, I noticed that even as they moved around and canted their heads from right to left or left to right, their eyes never left me. They were only too aware that I was there! So I continued to watch them, fascinating little creatures when you watch them and drown out the rest of the world. Around and around they scurried atop that rock, always watching me.
    
     As I watched them I wondered to myself, "Mr and Mrs Squirrel, what do you see when you look at me?"

Do you see the man that didn't appreciate his life, or the boy who clobbered sense into that senseless man?

Do you see the boy inside the man who couldn't get past the fearful man?

Maybe they see the man who was afraid to listen because he would learn that he was wrong, the boy wollupped the man on that as well!

Hmmm, maybe they see the boy who wept over the girl, until the man picked him up with a beer. In time the boy and his father taught him that was wrong as well!

Just maybe, they see the man who was yearning for something better, but was afraid to listen to the boy? It took years, but the boy got through to that loving, fearful man.

Perhaps, the squirrels only saw a man who might eat them if he were fleeter afoot, thus only a minor concern to them.

Most important is what the boy and the man believe the two squirrels saw......... A man who has learned to Believe In His Courage.....