Lessons from a Mayfly

Mr M and I were sitting watching a nature show - if you are a follower of my blog - you know we love those programmes!!, and we were watching one by accident and we came across a tiny little insect called a Mayfly. I hate flies so I am sure I would hate one if I ever saw it - but I watched in utter amazement. Since then I have learnt that these little insects start as a little nymph and at a certain time in their life cycle - their tummies fill up with air and they float to the top. It is amazing watching them because if it's not timed right - and they float to the top of the water too early - they become someone's fodder..... Here are my lessons that I have learnt from a Mayfly. I know - lessons from a Mayfly!!

  

1) God is in control
So when a little nymph gets to the top it waits and at a certain temperature - an exact temperature - not a degree more or less - they morph into their next stage with wings.... It was amazing to see this calm water and then all of a sudden these little flies pop up everywhere - trillions of them!! What did I get from this - easy - God is in control. I mean an exact temperature - is an exact technicalityl! He created everything including perfect timing. Amazing.

The next things I learnt come from a mixture of the next stages in the Mayfly's life cycle.

2) Growing up changes you
The next stage in the life of a Mayfly sees them growing wings and flying. They look nothing like their previous stage yet they are the same insect. The metamorphosis process is spectacular. Growing up changes us and depending on the environment - and thankfully for most people - and with maturity - a change for good.

3) Sacrifice for greater good
Between the next two changes in the Mayfly's cycle - the body changes to such an extent that its entire digestive system is replaced with reproductive parts. This means it no longer eats or drinks - and its function from then on - until it's death is focussed on its next generation. This thought made me stop and think about the sacrifice that each fly makes for something bigger than themselves. I could not fathom this on a human level, I mean the Saviour did this for us, but what about on a normal person's level - normal like you and I. What do we sacrifice? Remember - this insect's whole digestive system is replaced!

4) Time is precious

What is so amazing about this little fly - is that it only has 24 hours to live once it has undergone its last change - 24 hours! And in that time, it has to mate and get eggs fertilised before dying. I am ashamed to even think about what I have accomplished in 24 hours... A lesson for me again, and a reminder for us all - that time is precious. We may not have 24 hours to live and die but we do have time to use wisely. Something for me to remember!!

5) Live life to its potential
When a Mayfly has finished what is charged with doing, exhausted - it dies. As there are trillions born at the same time, you would think finding a mate would be easy - but obviously not, as there are many that die without having laid its eggs or having their egg fertilised. This got me thinking about living life to its potential so that at my end, I can be justifiably exhausted because I lived every minute to its potential!

 A Mayfly might be the size of the tip of a tweezer or as big as the tip of a finger - its lessons have been MIGHTY!! What do you think?

Yours in friendship,

Mxo

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

Yesterday I had the opportunity to be a part of an assessment panel for a man that was refered to as a tohunga whakairo. My grandmother talked about a tohunga as someone who was spiritual in nature, of someone who can see things that others couldn't. In the context of where I was, this particular man, who was given blocks of wood and given some learning outcomes to achieve, produced three stunning, amazing creations. To put into context what he had made - these pieces were being sold for $120,000 for the largest and my favourite was being sold for $75,000.

I sat there amazed that this man could see the end results from looking at planks of wood. He could see the beauty in something that others would easily overlook and turned something ordinary into these magnificent pieces of art. In fact one of the bases of his creations had been discarded rimu that you could tell was once twisted and unattractive.

This caused me to reflect on how we as people look at others. What are some of the things that we should look for, sometimes unseen by others, in those people around us that help us recognise and in some cases remember that they have unlimited potential?

1) Eyes
The eyes are said to be the windows to the soul. Let's look for people whose eyes are friendly, cheeky, happy, caring and giving.

2) Words
Listen to the kinds of words that are being spoken. Do the people you are surrounded with tell the truth? Do they write words of inspiration? Here are some words that a husband (Robert Browning) wrote on his wedding morning to his bride (Elizabeth Barrett):

"You will only expect a few words. What will those be? When the heart is full it may run over; but the real fullness stays within....Words can never tell you....how perfectly dear you are to me - perfectly dear to my heart and soul. I look back and in every one point, every word and gesture, every letter, every silence - you have been entirely perfect to me - I would not change one word, one look,.....you have given me the highest, completest, proof of love that ever one hunan being gave another. I am all gratitude - and all pride....that my life has been so crowned by you".12 September 1846

3) Actions
Watch for the actions of those around you. Are they actions of someone who loves easily, or judges harshly? Or they like the people described by Albert Einstein when he said "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing". Let's choose to be around others like those Edward Everett Hale talks about when he said:

I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

4) Touch
How do people you associate with touch others around them. Do they push and shove others? Do they embrace those in need? Today I sat next to a woman who was crying. I sat there for a moment, then I reached for her hand and held it. I don't know if it helped at all, but it was the only way I could tell her that I cared without saying a word.

5) Smile
One of the Directors where I work has a saying that a smile increases the value of his face.... which actually led to him being called Mr Sunshine. True to form everytime you see him he is smiling. What better weather pattern to be than sunshine!

Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder - so lets have another look this week at the people around us finding the potential they have to become great and marvellous individuals. We are not looking for things that others see - we are looking for the things that only we know of them ;-)

Yours in friendship

Mxox