The Ant & The Bird

On a hot day one summer, a bird noticed a tiny ant carrying a large bread crumb across the meadow. "You poor creature," said the bird. "Why are you working so hard? The sun is hot and the crumb is heavy. Why don't you rest for a bit and come enjoy the shade of this tree?"

The ant glanced over at the bird sitting on the tree's branches. "I do not have wings to fly wherever I please. When winter comes, my family will be underground and we'll need food to eat. I must gather what I can now, while I still can," replied the ant. The bird laughed. "But a few crumbs will surely not be enough to feed a colony," it said.

The ant was undeterred and continued carrying the crumb across the meadow.  "Perhaps not," said the ant, "But I will carry another, and another after that." Day after day, the ant carried food across the meadow to add to its pile. Slowly but surely, the pile grew.

When winter came, the tree's shade became a shadow of naked branches. The birds flew south to warmer weather. The ant went underground with enough food to last another winter and rested as it prepared for another summer.

When we spend our time looking over the fence at the lives of others, it can be tempting to be drawn to the comforts of their path. However, while our paths may intertwine, we must remember their journeys don't always reflect our own. With different destinations, we carry different responsibilities to fulfill. With different strengths, we encounter different struggles to overcome.

The ant that sits on the branch with a bird in the summer will starve in the winter, and the bird that works tirelessly in the summer won't have the energy to migrate, freezing in the winter. It isn't for us to complain about the circumstances of our lives, but to embrace our journeys as our own and to seek the destination that awaits us.

Know yourself. Know your path. Allow others to enjoy their adventure so that you can enjoy yours.