The first little pig built a cozy house of straw. It was warm on nice days, though on rainy days it was prone to sogginess but it usually dried out quickly and he could live with that. It just so happened that this little pig had a hungry wolf living nearby, and even though he knew the danger and evil that lurked not far from his home, he felt snugly secure in his little hut. After all, all was well in his neck of the woods.
The second little pig also knew of the hungry wolf living in the nearby wood for he had grown up with the knowledge which came from his parents who had taught him as a piglet to beware of the danger. He chose to build his house of sturdy sticks. He felt he had done well in preparing his home for habitation and went about his days with a feeling of security knowing that his dwelling kept out the rain and provided warmth on chilly evenings.
It didn't take long to build his house and that left time for what he loved the most. Dancing and singing his day away joined by his other brother who had built a house of straw. Both felt that they were sufficiently prepared for the time that came every year when the wolf went hunting in preparation for winter.
The third little pig thought long and hard about his house. He prepared it with a sturdy foundation and began building up solid walls of brick an mortar. His home, which took many months to build, was impenetrable as well as warm and dry. The third little pig knew the value of work and felt great satisfaction in a job well done. His days were filled with peace and tranquility, and a sure knowledge that he would be safe should the wolf come visiting his door.
Still on the prowl and certain he could find more to eat, the wolf moved to the next dwelling of sticks owned by the second little pig. After being denied entry, he became forceful and again with a little effort blew the house of stick into pieces, snatching up the second little pig as a captive.
The wolf was now overconfident and greedy. He knew there was a third little pig and felt quite certain that he was no better prepared than his brothers had been. The wolf approached the house, demanding entry. He was given a firm negative response. The third little pig told the wolf that it was bad enough that the wolf had destroyed the homes of his two younger brothers and taken them into captivity. The wolf was told that he would not have the soul of this little pig as well.
The wolf, feeling proud and strong commenced blowing, and huffing and puffing and the little brick house stood firm and still. He tried other methods of entry, but was firmly denied in every case. The third little pig was well rewarded for his diligent effort to thwart the entry of evil into his home and lived quite securely there for many years to come. Of course the story ends happily with him rescuing his two other brothers from the wolf and then they all three live happily and safely ever after in the house of bricks.
Like I said, every time the wind blows I think of this story. I detest the wind - the kind that is strong and forceful and often wreaks havoc in its wake. I hate to feel the house shudder after a particularly strong gust. But as I sit safely inside my home, I feel safe and secure, knowing that the wind cannot get through the walls that stand as a defense for me and those who dwell here against it. The wind, like the temptations of the devil, cannot come inside unless invited. I know that as spiritual walls are built in one's life, even tornado force temptations and trials cannot weaken those walls. So today, I find joy in the wind, not because I enjoy it, but because of the truths that it teaches me.
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