"The Amazing Stunt Spider"

I'll admit, I'm not a fan of spiders. I can appreciate what they do, and some are even beautiful, but I'm not generally a fan. Well, friends - this week, that changed. I've become a fan of one little spidery fellow and let me tell you why.

One day, as we were pulling out of our driveway, Eli noticed a tiny little brown spider that had built an intricately beautiful web across the passenger side mirror of our SUV. We drove down our street with that little guy clinging to his web. As I accelerated, forces began to pull his web apart and in short order there was just one strong vertical thread left. Busy city streets brought higher speeds and that thread began to shake violently. He hung on for dear life.

When freeway driving commenced you can imagine how much the wind was whipping him around. He never let go. Eventually, in spite of the incredible pressure, he slowly and carefully climbed up that one strong silky thread and hid himself between the top of the mirror and the rim above it. There, he was able to safely ride at 60 miles an hour for about 30 minutes without any wind hitting him at all.

We pulled into the driveway of our friends' home and found that he was still there quietly tucked in that sheltered spot. After our visit, we came out to find that the spider had built another beautiful web. The same thing happened all over again. As we drove off, the web fell apart to a single thread, he clung on, we hit the freeway and he tucked himself back under the rim - safe and sound.

He is still there - building beautiful webs every day, riding with us as we travel about our days, tucking under the rim when he needs to. He hasn't given up. And, he hasn't stopped building and rebuilding.

Sometimes, the sun is shining, life is calm and peaceful and we can accomplish much as we weave beautiful moments and memories with the people we love.

Sometimes, the threads of our lives start to shake a little and we hold on more tightly.

Sometimes, it seems everything we've worked so hard to build is destroyed down to a one strand that we desperately cling to.

Sometimes, even that single thread is shaking so violently that we have no choice. We crawl into the Savior's arms - tucking ourselves snugly under the shelter of His mighty wings. And there, we find or rediscover rest, comfort, and peace as only He can give - no matter how violent the storm outside is.

Do we bravely build again? I hope so. I hope we don't let discouragement, cynicism or a certain lying snake creep in and whisper - "Don't bother building. It will only fall apart again. Give it up."

I hope we dig in our heels, smile, and say, "I was born to build. I'm designed by My Creator to take what He's gifted me with and weave beautiful things for His glory. If they fall apart sometimes - or I do - it's ok. It's not over. When life shakes me so hard I can barely hold on - I have Someone to cling to. The Lord is my refuge, my shelter, my strength - the unbreakable thread that holds everything together. Ultimately, He's the weaver and I'm the silk. He may graciously allow me to weave and build, to be a part of what He's doing, and whether I succeed or fail - He's weaving faith into my heart, strength into my soul, grateful dependence on Him into my attitude.

I'm not a huge fan of spiders in general, but I'm a fan of that little brown one. Way to go, buddy. Keep on keeping on. You've inspired me and reminded me just how blessed I am whether I'm soaring, shaking or tucked in the shelter of my Savior's arms.

And you, dear friends, you too can be amazing stunt spiders! Hang on, hold your head high, and keep on keeping on. Your Savior is with you always, whatever may come, and He is weaving beautiful plans for you, in you, and through you. Because of Who He is, we can trust through our trials, sing in the storms, dance in the rain, flourish even through failures. Praise the Lord!

God bless you, friends!