So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-34)
In our fast-food, quick-buck, go-get-‘em world, it is easy to become caught up in activity without experiencing any accomplishment.
The French entomologist, Jean-Henri Fabre, conducted an experiment that beautifully illustrates this predicament. The experiment used processionary caterpillars—wormlike creatures that travel in long undulating lines, at the same pace and cadence, giving no thought to their final destination. Without forethought, they simply follow the leader.
Dr. Fabre placed a group of these caterpillars onto the thin rim of a large flowerpot. The leader of the group was nose to tail with the last caterpillar in the slow, non-ending, deliberate procession. Even for Dr. Fabre, it was impossible to determine which was the leader and which were the followers.
In the center of the flowerpot, Fabre placed an abundant supply of food. The caterpillars paraded around and around, day after day, night after night, until after seven days and nights, the caterpillars began to die off one by one. They died of starvation and utter exhaustion. The abundant supply of food was only a few inches away but slightly outside the path they traveled. Their source of life was visible but not available unless they altered their habitual and instinctive process.
Maybe it’s time we all took a break from our meaningless activity and focused on the only activity that really satisfies. Seek first the Kingdom of God.
Keeping the faith,
Roy Ice
