Whenever I feel exhausted and overwhelmed with work–like now, as I look ahead to a weekend where I’ll be swamped with back-to-school preparations for one institution and end-term grading for another–it’s comforting to consider the industry of spiders. It must take hours of delicate, tedious spinning to craft an orb alongside a shady sidewalk…and in seconds, all that work can be destroyed by a passing hand. What keeps any spinning soul from tiring or giving up hope?
Aug 24, 2007 at 5:25 am
I always wonder, and it never ceases to amaze me, that the spinning soul (human or arachnid) nearly always keeps going no matter what. I suppose the lack of any rational explanation for this is why I’ve come around to having something approaching what you might call ‘faith’.
Take good care of yourself through this busy, tiring time, Lorianne.
Aug 24, 2007 at 3:48 pm
… love the spiders and their intricate webs – particularly after a rain. Their patient efforts are a reminder (and perhaps a small reflection) of Indra’s diamond web.
Aug 24, 2007 at 4:23 pm
I think “faith” is a much nicer word than “momentum.” Both Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman wrote poems comparing spiders to poets: quiet, patient things that create something intricate and surprisingly strong.
And yes, there’s nothing more reminiscent of Indra’s net than a dew-bejeweled spiderweb.
Aug 24, 2007 at 9:20 pm
although I do wish the one who keeps spinning her web outside my front door would give up. I am tired of getting that sticky web in my face and hair every morning.
Aug 25, 2007 at 6:18 am
Wow that is a fantastic picture! I am feeling swamped with half finished projects that must be put away in a week when school starts. I am frantic trying to decide which to work on and complete. Thanks for the reminder of how spiders do it – one thing at a time. Slow and steady.