Some youth have better outlook on life than adults

Years ago, I wrote an article about priorities in life. I used the example of a lecturer putting rocks, pebbles, sand and beer in a jar and pointing out that the rocks symbolized the important things in life and the others were secondary. I was hoping to reach my adult readers, but I was surprised to receive the following email from a young person. This was very encouraging. She writes:

“Hi, I am writing to you just to let you know that I read your article in the newspaper and it really gave me a new perspective on life. I now realize that life is a gift from God and you should treasure it. I think everyone should live every day to the fullest. I don’t really understand the whole meaning of ‘life’ yet, but when I do, I’ll be ready! I don’t really make time for the big things in life like I should because I’m too worried about the small things.

“When you broke down the meaning of life with the rocks, pebbles, sand and beer, I thought it was amusing at first, but then it made me think. So I decided to write to you. Now I will see life as a gift from God rather than something that’s just there. I also realized that I take many things for granted, but now that will change. I will now live my life knowing that I am not just here to be here. I am here for a reason.

“Sincerely, Meagan G., age-12.”

I would like to dedicate the following “The Spider Web” story to all the young Meagans.

During a battle, a young soldier and his army were being soundly defeated by their enemy. He and his comrades hastily retreated from the battlefield, running in fear for their lives. The enemy pursued. In desperation, the young man ran hard and fast and soon found himself cut off from his comrades.

The soldier eventually came upon a rocky ledge containing a cave. Aware that the enemy was close behind and that he was exhausted, he decided to hide in the cave. After he crawled in, he fell to his face in the darkness, desperately crying to God to save him and protect him from his enemies. He made a bargain with God. He promised that if God would save him, he would serve him forever.

When he looked up, he saw a spider beginning to weave its web at the entrance to the cave. As he watched the delicate threads being slowly drawn across the mouth of the cave, the young soldier pondered its irony. He thought, “I asked God for protection and deliverance, and he sent me a spider instead.”

His heart was throbbing, knowing the enemy would soon discover his hiding place and kill him. Suddenly, he heard the sound of his enemies combing the area for those in hiding. An armed soldier slowly walked to the cave’s entrance. As the young man crouched in the darkness, hoping to surprise the soldier in a desperate attempt to save his own life, he felt his heart pounding feverishly.

As the soldier cautiously moved toward the cave’s entrance, he came upon the spider’s web completely strung across the opening. He backed away and called out to a comrade, “There can’t be anyone in here. They would have had to break this spider’s web to enter the cave. Let’s move on.”

Years later, the young man filled his promise and became a preacher and evangelist. When speaking about his ordeal in the cave, he says, “Where God is, a spider’s web is as a stone wall. Where God is not, a stone wall is as a spider’s web.”