Think Before Acting

   Back on the farm when I was just a kid, Pop used to give me lots of tips on how to get along in the world.  I sort of got my temperament from him.  Looking at things logically instead of emotionally can take you far.  I still rely on a lot of his teachings just to make it through the day.  One of the things he used to tell me was not to act irrationally in any event.  If something occurs that is startling, "use your head to work it out".  His teachings were not only about monumental things but even small things.  Think about those actions before leaping right into the mire.  Makes sense.

  I was thinking about Pop this morning when an odd-looking critter decided my arm was a good resting spot.  Most folks would have swatted the poor critter and never regretted it.  Me?  Well, I just could not kill the thing simply because it needed a safe place to sit for a moment.  The bug and I eyed each other curiously trying to figure the others reaction to being so near.  It sat and I continued to pick figs.  After about five minutes the fly moved onto a piece of twine that was in the flower bed.  There, it kept watch over me.

  As far as I can remember, Pop used to call these bugs "Robber Flies" or "Assassin Flies".  I am assuming that is the name but cannot be for certain.  I do know that they are incredibly helpful as they pretty much eat other biting insects.  I have had them snatch deer flies and mosquitoes from around my head on dozens of occasions.  Today, I used my head to calmly assess the situation and allow that scary-looking critter to sit in place.  Did I regret my well-thought action?  Nope.  Instead of a reaction that would have killed the critter, I took no action which might save me from being bit by a blood-sucking varmint.  Sometimes, no action is the best reaction.  Thinking helps!