From DoodleGraphics

If you asked me for a list of 1,000 things that I love, or even like, spiders would not appear.  Not even at 998 or 999.  I really dislike spiders.  However, this past Sunday morning a spider taught me a lesson that I won't soon forget.  You see there is a spider that lives in our driver's side mirror.  I had observed it in days prior but it wasn't bothering me directly so I left it alone.  However, as we pulled out of the driveway on Sunday I realized that it hadn't had time to get from its web to the mirror for a comfortable ride down the road.  Instead it was swinging back and forth like the most crazy amusement park ride you could imagine.  The spider was curled up in a ball and holding on for dear life.

Warren and I were quite amused and he insisted that it was not going to fall.  I was not so sure.  But he ended up being right.  The little critter made it all the way to our destination, which happened to be a restaurant where we were going to grab a quick breakfast on the way to church.  Now normally we don't go in to eat because we don't have enough time on a Sunday morning but yesterday we were a bit earlier than usual and so it worked out.  Warren had assured me that if the spider was still attached when we got there that he would set it free in the parking lot.  We figured that it would just move on and set up house on another car or on a nearby fence post.  We were actually quite pleased at the expected outcome.

He followed through on his promise and I felt much better knowing that we were going to be rid of that pest. While it had been interesting and amusing I maintain my dislike of spiders.

We ate our eggs and toast, paid the bill and returned to the car.  Warren burst out laughing.  The spider was back.  Curled up on the mirror as if it had never been removed.  What could I do but laugh as well.  The attachment of the web had apparently not been broken.  What was the little thing to do but return home?
And so it did.

Of course my mind turned this into a lesson for myself.  A reminder to build my priorities and my home to such a strength and priority that I could not easily be removed and resettled.  How often do we seek to find our happiness and reward outside of the simple things that are most important?  Our faith, our family and our home?

How many times do I disdain the routines of cleaning my house in favor of the more glamorous thrill of ....well...just about anything else!  Or how often do I take a pass on a quiet time in favor of more time on Facebook?  Often, it is true.

Every time we transfer our allegiance to something outside of these basic priorities we are missing opportunities to strengthen our connection to the things that should be our home base.  Those things that when our world gets shaken allow us to find our way home.

Just like the little guy we are now calling Brandon.  Hey, don't blame me.  Chelsea gave him the name.  :-)

Thanks for reading....Becky at Good Neighbors Candles