A poem by my wonderful bloggish friend (you’ll love this one!)—
Why Ants Stay Busy, by Oneta Hayes
Ant Father: “‘Mountain must move’ Big Man said today.”
Ant Mother: “Did he mean us? The place we stay.”
Ant Father: “He said this mountain is in his way –
And off he went to get the spray.”
Down the hole scurried Ant Father and Mother
Taking with them every sister and brother
They shouted warning to one another
“Go lower, slide, hide, take cover.”
The fury was great, soft dirt did blow
The mountain they build was rendered low
The mud came rolling in a mighty flow
Only a tiny light continued to glow.
“Now it’s all over,” they said with a grin
“Everybody get to work, let’s do it again.”
They scurried and hurried and made such a din.
They loved their life’s work – annoying men!
By Oneta Hayes at Sweet Aroma
OH, the wisdom of humor!! But here’s the thing. Ever notice how, when you get rid of one ant hill, others pop up? I mean, it’s not a one-time deal, slaying ants. Ants just keep doing what they do, building ant hills, because that’s how they’re wired.
In other words, that’s what they are created to do. It doesn’t matter how many times they get sprayed or squished. They keep working together to build, because it has to be built. Period.
They make me look like such a whiner. Certainly, there are B-I-G boots stomping around: illness, depression, financial concerns, relational disappointments, and the list goes on. One or two knockdowns and I might be ready to throw in the towel.
But in reality, that’s not the way God created me. Nope, not by a longshot. He has made me (and is re-making me) to build, (a) regardless of who steps on me, and (b) in community with other builders. Both are important factors for success.
I like how King Solomon puts it:
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…
Of course, the New Testament version reads more like this:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Which means the size of the boot doesn’t matter. I’ll just continue my life’s work—annoying Satan.
Ecclesiastes 9:10; Philippians 4:13 Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
On time and hit me right where it matters: my heart. I am on a quest to once again run my business full time, and that passion for writing and speaking is what I am meant to do! Now, like the ants you speak of, I just need to do it! 🙌🏽 I love how you use analogies and metaphors in your writing. The visuals are impactful!
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Thank you; that seems to be one of the main ways God chooses to communicate with me. Oneta Hayes is wonderful–check out her blog when you can. Will you be posting your progress?
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I will check her out. That is an interesting idea, to post about my progress with going full time again. It could help others who have to go through process from corporate to full time on their own. I will think about that… it could fit on my blog for sure! Thank you for idea!
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Thanks. 😀
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LOVE this poem.
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You are so good with object lessons. But then I guess someone has to write the books. There I’ve given you another project for retirement!
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!!!!!!!!
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I’m just glad I’m not an ant. I mean, don’t you know that they’ve got to have dirt under their nails ALL the time? And only one queen for all those soldiers? Feeding grasshoppers all the time, too! I’ll consider the ant, yes, but I’d prefer to be the little hyrax (rock badger) from Proverbs – you know, the “conies” that live in the rocks? They are my little heros 🙂
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Hey, dirt under the nails is fine if you’re a gardener (or an ant). All a matter of perspective, bro!
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Hope you’re healing up fast.
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