Hamilton – with Ramps, Deafness and Wolves

Last night we went to Norwich to watch Hamilton…

Recently Al’s been making a ramp. Earlier this week he completed it. He posted on Facebook: ‘Now a very disabled man can safely leave his front door without overstretching and losing his walker. For safety, non-slip paint and chicken wire will be added.’

Al’s friend can now enter and leave his house much more safely.

Al’s friend can now enter and leave his house much more safely.

Yesterday Dawn told me… Her hearing isn’t good in one ear… Her mental health hasn’t been too good lately…

…It felt like God was on one shoulder talking to her deaf ear; the devil was on the other shoulder talking to her good ear. She only heard bad things. She felt bad…

‘Then it came to me,’ she said. ‘I’ll make God and the devil swap shoulders. God will speak into my good ear; the devil will speak into my deaf ear.’  

Since making that decision Dawn’s been feeling much better.

I was reminded of the old Native American story.

An old grandad is teaching his grandson about life. ‘A terrible fight is going on inside me, you and every person on earth, a battle between two wolves. One wolf is evil, full of anger, envy, sadness, regret, greed, arrogance, resentment and guilt. The other wolf is good, full of joy, peace, hope, humility, kindness, truth, generosity and compassion.

The boy thinks, then asks, ‘Grandad, which wolf will win?’

The old man smiles and says, ‘The one you feed.’

Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies, became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and helped shape America…

…Hamilton gets married, has a son, and is deeply involved in politics… Hamilton’s family are away, he’s busy working… He’s tempted to start an affair with Maria Reynolds. It’s ‘that’ decision…

Where do I build ramps allowing easier access? Who do I allow to speak into my hearing ear?  Which wolf do I feed?

Hamilton weakens, starts an affair, brings damage and destruction to his marriage and political career.

And me?