things that make you think

Today in my Sunday school class the teacher read a story that really, well, made me think. She gave it to me to keep and, even though it is long, I will post it, and you better read it, because it took some effort and some time to type it all out. Enjoy!!



"TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT by: Price Pritchett

"I'm sitting in a quiet room at the Milcroft Inn, a peaceful little place hidden back among the pine trees about an hour out of Toronto. It's just past noon, late July, and I'm listening to the desperate sounds of a life-or-death struggle going on a few feet away.

"There's a small fly burning out the last of its short life's energies in a futile attempt to fly through the glass of a windowpane. The whining wings tell the poingnant story of the fly's strategy: Try harder.

"But it's not working.

"The frenzied effort offers no hope for survival. Ironically, the struggle is part of the trap. It is impossible for the fly to try hard enough to succeed at breaking through the glass. Nevertheless, this little insect has staked its life on reaching its goal through raw effort and determination.

"This fly is doomed. It will die there on the windowsill.

"Across the room, ten steps away, the door is open. Ten seconds of flying time and this small creature could reach the outside world it seeks. With only a fraction of the effort now being wasted, it could be free of this self-imposed trap. The breakthrough possibility is there. It would be so easy.

"Why doesn't the fly try another approach, something dramatically different? How did it get so locked in on the idea that this particular route and determined effort offer the most promise for success? What logic is there in continuing until death to seek a breakthrough with more of the same?

"No doubt this approach makes sense to the fly. Regrettably, it's an idea that will kill.

"Trying harder isn't necessarily the solution to achieving more. It may not offer any real promise for getting what you want out of life. Sometimes, in fact, it's a big part of the problem.

"If you stake your hopes for a breakthrough on trying harder than ever, you may kill your chances of success."


I don't know exactly why this little story hit me so hard, but it did, and without reason. Maybe I should take something from this. I'm too much of a perfectionist for my own good. I should just follow this story's advice and try a different approach on things. I definetly try too hard.

Another thing that makes me think is not as profound and deep as the fly story, but it's been bugging me all week. I'd love to hear your answers to this question (comment please): What color is clear? My answer would probably be every color, because clear is any color it feels like being. Yeah, well I hope I made you think.