THERE IT WAS....Attached to a small corner of the swing where I was sitting; a solitary constructor had accomplished a magnificent work of beauty...a meticulously designed spider’s web. It was clinging precariously to the smooth unprotected surface. Intricately crafted, it was flexible enough to swing in the gentle breeze.  How tediously that miniature creature had worked to fashion its home!  As the sun shone upon it, it reached the level of lovely, delicate, artistic effort, how-be-it; very treacherous for its unwary prey. It was not only a work of art, but of

The Spider's Web

patience. How long must this miniscule spider wait until a lavish meal would be available? The
gullible insects were not aware of the transparent, sticky substance which assures this architect
of a sumptuous lunch. Even now, as I write, I see a tiny unsuspecting victim striving to free
itself from bondage, alas; the harder it struggles, the tighter become the strands in the web. It is
savagely choked, until the final analysis is death.

This is not only a lesson in industry, but a lesson in deception. We too have our snares. Satan
deceives us with cunningly attractive methods, and binds us with horrific deficits...addictions of
the flesh and spirit. It takes the power of God to extricate us from our prison. We need to be
very wise to the devil’s tactics.

The scripture in Matthew 10:16 states that we (Christians) are sent forth to confront our world,
as sheep among the wolves. We are admonished to be as wise as serpents and harmless as
doves.
                                  
                           Maxine Tolbert Trigleth