(I didn’t see this post coming when I started my morning… but perhaps a lesson we can find a practical way to apply to our own lives.)
I saw an interesting battle on my front porch this morning. A larger than average spider was lowering itself by its web out of the tree next to my front porch. It appeared it was in the early stages of building a web.
I watched as a fly circled the spider and attacked it from different angles numerous times. If I didn’t know any better, I could have come to the conclusion the fly understood it’s time to seize victory was that moment, because if the spider was successful in constructing that web, it’s fate would be sealed. Finally, after several attacks from various angles the spider relented in its efforts to build the trap and dropped to the ground, the strands from it’s partially constructed web harmlessly blowing in the gentle breeze. The fly moved on, apparently satisfied by its victory.
Then the coach in me began thinking…
The fly played to its strengths while preventing the spider from playing to its own strength. Like I said earlier, had the spider been successful in building its web, it could have only been a matter of time before the fly and it’s distant relatives would get caught up in the web and fall victim, giving its life to the enjoyment of the spider.
Everyone of us have opposition in our lives set against our success.
For me, getting to the summit of a mountain, sometimes that opponent is simply gravity and fatigue… applying pressure to every step I take upward.
Sometimes the opponent is ourselves… we just can’t get out of our own way when it comes to achieving certain goals…
• Eating healthier…
• Saving money for something we value…
• Starting any good habit that requires us to get up earlier…
• On and on the list could go…
For my probation clients, the list seems to be overwhelming at times…
Perhaps we can learn something from that (not-so-stupid) fly. Perhaps we can learn how to play to our strengths and prevent our opponents from weaving the web that could eventually ensnare us.
Just a random lesson I was taught this morning over coffee on my front porch.
It’s amazing what can be learned when we shut down the noise around us…