What’s worth holding onto …
Do you know how they used to catch monkeys for zoos and such? They put a crumpled up ball of tin foil into a narrow-necked bottle out in the sun. The monkeys would see the shiny ball of foil and go over to investigate. Being curious, they would reach in to the bottle and grab for it. When the monkey had the shiny ball in hand the hunter would run out and net him. The monkey would try to escape with the bottle on his paw rather than let go of the new toy, and of course, he would be caught.
That image stayed with me. How often have I reached for that shiny object, either a job or a relationship only to have myself caught in a trap of my own making! The trap is real—but was the tin foil really worth the trade-off in the long run?
One of the best perspectives on choices in life came from an old movie favorite of mine. Have you seen Sean Connery’s movie The Wind and the Lion? It is a terrific story about war, love, great men and a woman taking risks. It has provocative dialogue, with some intense fighting and a beheading or two. A beautiful Candice Bergen is kidnapped by Sean Connery, a Sultan of Berbers (Morocco). The games begin and they play out on an international field.
There are several great scenes. Teddy Roosevelt almost replaces the American Eagle with the Grizzly Bear (fun discussion), and there is a definition of great men that stands brilliantly on its own. But the best is the end of the movie. I won’t ruin it for those who may go add it to their queue on Netflix. But these paraphrased words by Sean Connery are worth repeating, “Isn’t it great to have something worth risking everything for?”
What in your life is worth risking everything for? That choice is what ultimately defines you. Not just what you gain, but what you are willing to risk for that gain. When you have a clear picture of what you want and what you will risk for it, then you have a road map of where to spend your best time … and if it isn’t worth risking anything for, then it is just tinfoil, right?
Lisa of MyTruthinHand
