Walking down a path through some woods, i saw a water puddle ahead on the path. i angled my direction to go around it, on the part of the path that wasn't covered by water and mud. But as i reached the puddle, i was suddenly attacked! Yet i did nothing for the attack was so unpredictable and from the source so totally unexpected. I was startled as well as unhurt, despite having been struck four or five times already. I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped. Instead, he hovered in the air, on graceful butterfly wings, in front of me. Had i been hurt, i wouldn't have found it amusing. But i was unhurt, it was funny, and i was laughing. After all, i was being "attacked" by a butterfly!
Having stopped laughing, i took a step forward. My attaaker rushed me again. He ramned me in the chest with his head and body, striking me over and over again with all his might- still to no avail. For the second time, i retreated a step while my attacker relented in his motion. Yet again, i tried moving forward. My attacker charge me again! I was ramned in the chest over and over that i wasn't sure what to do, other than to retreat a third time. After all, its not just everyday that one is "attacked" by a butterfly! This time, though, i stepped back several paces to look the situation over.
My attacker moved back, only to land on the ground. That's when i discovered why the butterfly was charging me only moments earlier. He had a mate, and she was dying. She was beside the puddle where he'd landed. Sitting close beside her, the butterfly opened and closed his wings as if to fan her. I could only admire the love and courage of that butterfy in his concern for his mate. He had taken it upon himself to attack me for his mate's sake, eventhough she was clearly dying, and i was so large. He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life, anxious that i might have been careless enough to step on her.
Now i knew why and what he is fighting for. There was really only one option left for me. I carefully made my way around the puddle on the other side of the path though it was only inches wide and extremely muddy.
His courage in attacking something thousand of times larger and heavier than himself, just for his mate's safety, justified it. I just had to reward him by walking on a more difficult side of the puddle. He had truly earned those moments to be with her undisturbed. I left them in peace for those last few moments, cleaning the mud from my flip flops when i later reached home.
These days, I always try to remember the courage of that butterfly whenever i see huge obstacles facing me. I use the butterfly's courage as an inspiration--and to remind myself that good things are worth fighting for.
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