Sunday Newscape Magazine

Recently I witnessed something truly amazing while observing nature at work and I came up with a great metaphor for all of us to live by.

Many of you who read my columns know that I have an office in the basement of my home. On this day I saw a little spider web off to my right. This was not just any spider web, this one was moving! As I approached I observed a large beetle shaking wildly as his leg was stuck in this little web.

After a few minutes I could not see where the spider had gone. I thought he just gave up and would wait until the beetle would tire out and then go in for the kill, but I was wrong. The spider was now approaching from behind and the beetle knew it and began to shake wildly once again.

First, the spider attacked the rear leg and meticulously wrapped it up like a little package. Then on to the next part until this beetle became wrapped up like a piece of meat perfectly set up to bring home for dinner. I did not wait around to see the final feast, but I guarantee you all know the out come.

To some of you this story may not make any sense, but there is a powerful message in it. Think of life as the monster of a beetle and yourself as the little spider. In life you will encounter many beetles and you will fight many battles. To some of you the beetle will always win because you give up. But there are those who take the spiders’ path. These are the people who win in life.

Many of us are experiencing tremendous obstacles in these troubled times. Next time you get overwhelmed when dealing with something challenging think about the spider. This little bug knew what he wanted and despite all the odds he got it. It didn’t matter how big the obstacle was, it was how he approached it that mattered. In other words, be flexible when trying to conquer obstacles.

I can tell you from experience that my life has been filled with many battles from many beetles. To get around and truly conquer these monsters you must never give up and always keep your mind open for a different approach. It is this mindset that will offer you the best chance at anything you want to accomplish in life.

©Jerry Maldonado-2009 all rights reserved - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it