[blockquote source=”Jonathan Safran Foer”]I regret that it takes a life to learn how to live.”[/blockquote]

There’s a story I quite love, about an old man of generous of spirit, who knelt each morning by the side of the Ganges River – and, in order to offer his prayers for this world.

And though, he was revered by most of the villagers, there were others who thought him to be fool. Why should one man give so much of himself, to a world that would never know the depths of his devotion?

They were convinced his naïveté would bring him harm.

But, every morning (and in spite of their rumblings) – still, he carried on.

Then one day, the old man saw a spider struggling against the rushing waters. And though, he knew the spider to be quite poisonous – still, he helped him anyway.

It was as he was placing the spider safely to the grass, that it turned to deliver a vicious sting.

But, miraculously the old man was unaffected – it seemed his kindness had diluted the spider’s poison.

Day after day, the old man return to pray. And, each day, he saw the very same spider struggling.

And, every day the old man was delivered the same poisonous sting.

“What’s the matter with you?” the spider pleaded, “Can’t you see that I will sting you every time? Because…because, that is what I do.”

“And, this,” the old man smiled in return, “this is what I do.”

The story is about being true to one’s spirit, and…to be genuine in your manifestation of self.

Interestingly enough, there’s a similar story about a frog and a scorpion – though, it’s meaning is quite the opposite, asking us to be ever-mindful of the true nature of others.

Isn’t it amazing how these two stories carry equal spiritual weight? One of caring, and the other of caution?

Perspective determines everything, my darlings.

In recent years, I’ve learned that the truest source of my spiritual bliss – is when I’ve faced the odds, and ‘done it anyway.’

In some ways, this diagnosis has become one of my greatest blessings – as, it forced me to face loss in an entirely different way; unafraid to step into the light of my being.

Oh, sure, I moped and sopped and carried on, but in the end, I realized,

Life goes on.

And, you can either take the reigns, or wallow in your own complaints.

In looking back, perhaps my diagnosis was my ‘spider’ – at first, a threat and then, a reminder.

That we must always carry on, my friends – and, no matter what those ‘spiders’ may say.