Saturday, May 15, 2010

On Wings of Gossamer

Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads, there lived a little water beetle in a community of water beetles.

[Photo borrowed from the Internet]

They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond with few disturbances and interruptions.

Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and would never be seen again. They knew when this happened; their friend was dead, gone forever.

Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge to climb up that stem. However, he was determined that he would not leave forever.

[Lily Pads photo by Sasha Harris-Cronin]

He would come back and tell his friends what he had found at the top. When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so warm, that he decided he must take a nap.

As he slept, his body changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying.

So, fly he did! And, as he soared, he saw the beauty of a whole new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never known existed.

Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them, and explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended. But, his new body would not go down into the water.

He could not get back to tell his friends the good news. Then he understood that their time would come, when they, too, would know what he now knew.

So, he raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life!

[Author of story unknown]

I captured the blue-tailed dragonfly today while he joyously explored the pond in our courtyard. You can click on the images to enlarge them if you'd like to see this glorious little creature up close.

I'm not sure who enjoyed his adventures more ... him or me.

9 comments:

Loui♥ said...

OOOOOOH janie..
how delightful!
I've never heard this story..
and did wonder about the before life of dragonflies..
and now, along with your exquisite photos..
I know the rest of the story!!!
warmest hugs..
Loui♥
ps,, love the header!

Deb said...

Janie...great photos...how are you feeling? hope better...

nanny said...

Your pictures are just wonderful....do you give photo classes????? Oh to make pictures like these!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Janie, I am behind in my visiting because I had a fall on Thursday. I'm okay, but very sore. I just read in the comments above that you had been sick. I will be sure to catch up with your past posts.

The parable above reminds me of what is going to happen to believers in Jesus when we are raised from the dead, and it takes climbing up on top of the world and following and believing in the Lord to get there.

Your photographs are amazing. You do such good work!

Hugs today and always...

XO,

Sheila :-)

The Quintessential Magpie said...

I'm so sorry you're battling pneumonia, and I hope you feel better soon! Just read the post below this one. Sending you get well wishes...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...

Your photos are so good. I think I enjoyed his adventures more than you or he...lol..
Molly

Sue said...

Hi Janie,
I am so sorry you have not been well, I am just catching up on blogging myself. While reading your previous post and discovering your bout with pneumonia, I enjoyed your beautiful photos too. You are an amazing photographer.
Thank you for sharing the story of the dragon fly. I clicked on the pics. and all I have to say is AWESOME!
Blessings,
Sue

Robert Walker said...

Fantastic photos!

Tonja said...

How interesting...beautiful...amazing...! I never realized how dragonflys became dragonflys. These pictures are the best!

I hope you are feeling better. I got pneumonia right after Mom died last summer and it took me a while to get over it. Rest, rest, rest!