The Parable of the Hunter, the Monkey, and the Peanut
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: The South
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The Parable of the Hunter, the Monkey, and the Peanut
There is a tale about how certain hunters in Africa catch monkeys. A small jar is placed at the base of a tree with a peanut inside. The opening of the jar allows the monkey to place his hand in, but when he tries to withdraw it, he is unable to do so without letting go of the contents of the jar. Some monkeys will stay there with their hand in the jar until the hunter comes back to trap them. They are trapped because they are unwilling to let go of something they are doing which is working against them. And, it ultimately will lead to their demise.
I can relate to this parable. For many years, I have been trapped by my unwillingness to let my AD go. I have been holding on to her with all my might. Her disease consumed me. My thoughts and actions were insane. The sicker she became, the sicker I became. I would try to let her go and then somehow I always got sucked back in. Hand in the jar. Hand out of the jar. Right now, my hand is out of the jar. And, I am basking in the gift of serenity.
God, thank you.
I can relate to this parable. For many years, I have been trapped by my unwillingness to let my AD go. I have been holding on to her with all my might. Her disease consumed me. My thoughts and actions were insane. The sicker she became, the sicker I became. I would try to let her go and then somehow I always got sucked back in. Hand in the jar. Hand out of the jar. Right now, my hand is out of the jar. And, I am basking in the gift of serenity.
God, thank you.
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: hot as heck, az
Posts: 142
Strange when I read this, my first thought was, "poor monkey!" I am an animal lover... But it could also be empathy for the addict. what it must be like to be so consumed by something, you can't let go, even when the hunter shows up. The will to live gets trumped by a substance.
I remember telling my AGF that I didn't understand how someone can love a "thing" more than the people in their lives, but learning more about addiction has helped me gain insight.
thanks for posting that!
I remember telling my AGF that I didn't understand how someone can love a "thing" more than the people in their lives, but learning more about addiction has helped me gain insight.
thanks for posting that!
Nature Girl
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: By The Lake
Posts: 60,328
I love that story.
I also like the expression "Let go or be dragged".
Maybe I relate because I was a "heels dug in" "fight 'em to the end" hard core codie and letting go seemed an impossible task.
Like the monkey, my life depended on me letting go and it was still a hard decision to make.
Thanks for the reminder, I really needed that today.
Hugs
I also like the expression "Let go or be dragged".
Maybe I relate because I was a "heels dug in" "fight 'em to the end" hard core codie and letting go seemed an impossible task.
Like the monkey, my life depended on me letting go and it was still a hard decision to make.
Thanks for the reminder, I really needed that today.
Hugs
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