Lessons from the Ants

When I tell you this story, you may think I have way too much time on my hands (lol)... but there's so much we can discover about Life (God) when we take time to observe nature.

So the other day, I was outside with the dogs and as they were playing, I was watching a community of ants.

They have large ant hills spread throughout our yard and everyday they travel on different paths to and fro, bringing leaves, tiny flowers, little rocks and all kinds of material to their underground homes.

I often wonder what their underground homes look like and what they are creating with all those materials.

I started watching this one ant in particular, who was carrying a heavy and awkward load of a little bundle of flowers, determined to navigate it's way to one of the ant hills.

It was clear that the ant knew the direction it was going, but it didn't have a clear sense of the best path to get there because it did't have the bird's eye view that I had.

From my perspective, high above, I could see both the destination and the what would be the best path for the little ant to go with the least amount of obstacles.

I began to try to help navigate the little ant, helping it take the path of least resistance but that just seemed to confuse the little ant and create more obstacles, so I decided just to let the little ant go the way it wanted to go and as I saw obstacles coming, I would move them out of its way.

At times, there would be a stick in the way, a big rock, and mound of dirt or branches of a plant spreading across the terrain that the ant would either attempt to go around, go through or climb over while carrying this awkward load.

I started moving the rocks and sticks just before he got to them. I would lift up branches of flowers or stickers which allowed the little ant to keep up it's steady pace without any interference.

After a few minutes of this, the ant seemed to gain confidence and started to pick up speed and momentum, as if it was now trusting that there was another power (me) clearing the path for him.

He had a little more bounce and energy in his step! It was so cool to witness and fun to see this struggling ant take on a renewed energy and confidence.

And to top it off, as he passed another ant going the other way, the other ant stopped and readjusted the load on this ants back, the same way we might help another hiker whose backpack is on in such a way that makes it harder to carry.... I was amazed at the intelligence and compassion at the sight of this.!

I realized in that moment that this is exactly what God does for us.

He gives us free will to choose our path, yet he is always watching over us and guiding us.

When we put our faith in Him, he more prominently clears obstacles out of our way to make our path brighter and more clear.

He sends His angels our way to help lighten our loads, to guide us, guard us, bless us, enlighten us and see to it that whatever path we choose, will lead us back home to Him.

He gives us the confidence and knowingness that we are always being taken care of and that confidence puts a bounce in our step, knowing that only God's perfection and glory is at work in, through and around us at all times.

Praise, Glory and Honor to the Highest and Holy One from who ALL Blessings flow.

God Bless the ants and all of the Children of Light.