The Octopus

I was watching television the other day when someone mentioned the octopus. I never really thought about these creatures, so I did a little research. I found the octopus to be very interesting.

I learned that octopuses have venom. Most do not have enough to harm a human, but a bite from a small blue-ringed octopus can paralyze a human adult in minutes.

The octopus having venom reminds me of humans. For the most part, we do not bite, but then suddenly what comes out of our mouths can sting another person. While we prefer everyone speak kind and encouraging words, we know that we can do as much harm with our tongues as we can help with it. Let us watch what comes out of our mouths more closely to avoid hurting others.

The octopus also is a master of camouflage. It can change the entire color of its body as quick as three-tenths of a second. The difference between the octopus and others that use some masking feature is it does not just change to blend with its surrounding environment. It often mimics specific things underwater objects, like plants or rocks.

We can learn from this, as well. People want to fit in with the people around them. They dress like them, act like them, and often begin to think like them. We should quit trying to be something that looks like everyone else and mimic something different. I do not mean to be something you are not, but imitate what you can be, the best form of you. We all have areas in which we can improve. Now would be an excellent time to practice a better version of ourselves.

They are highly intelligent. A marine biologist videoed an octopus collecting coconut shells and building itself a home. Smithsonian.com reports, “However, the big-brained cephalopod can navigate through mazes, solve problems and remember solutions, and take things apart for fun–they even have distinct personalities.” The octopus has nine brains. One in the head and one in each arm. (No, they are not tentacles. Squids have tentacles. Octopuses have arms. Arms have suckers along most of their length, as opposed to tentacles, which only have them near their ends.) The octopus may see food, want it, and tell its arm what it wants, but the limb has a full understanding on its own of how to accomplish it.  Each brain thinks for itself while still working together to get things done.

I wish humans would do this. People tell others what to think, and many people just go along with it because it is much easier to let others think for us. We need to start thinking for ourselves, but also working with each other to make things happen for the greater good.

Another fascinating thing is they will lose and abandon an injured arm. Octopuses regenerate their lost limbs with no loss of function. Also, after hooking its arms to a predator, the octopus leaves the attached arm and wiggles as it escapes.

We need to let go of the things in our lives that hold us back and seek to destroy us. Hurts, offense, some people, fear, and grief can hinder our potential. There is a saying, “If you`re riding a horse and it dies, get off.”  Those things that are holding you back will not get you anywhere. Let them go, and you will be much further next year, than you are right now. 

Forged in Fire

My father-in-law recently introduced me to a show on the History Channel called Forged in Fire. This program puts four bladesmiths in competition against each other to create knives and historical weapons. Part of the process of making these items is to stick the metal in the fire. The fire heats the metal making it easier to shape it. When they believe the blade is how they want it, the bladesmiths quench it in oil or water to harden it. If things do not go right in the quenching process, the blade can crack.  

I, by no means, am an expert weapon maker, nor do I desire to be near anything as hot as a forge. All I know about the process is what I have seen on the show.

The fire fascinates me, though. The temperature of a coal fire in a forge can be around 3500 degrees Fahrenheit. I thought summers in the South were hot, but this is way too much heat for me. I would rather sip lemonade in the shade or preferably in an air-conditioned room.

People use the term fire to symbolize passion. Not everyone has the same things about which they are passionate. Not everyone has the same amount of passion. Passion helps shape how you behave. Passion dictates your direction. Passion decides how much time you devote to certain things.

Many people start new jobs with passion. They are filled with excitement about the new opportunity. They are passionate about doing a good job. They may be passionate about advancement possibilities.  They may take work home. They may study certain subjects to make them more knowledgeable about their work. They may arrive early at work and then leave late. Truly passionate workers are dedicated.

Problems can occur. Some people are backstabbers, trying to hold you back so they can move up the ranks. Some people are lazy and hinder your success because they are responsible for something you need. Things that you try are not successful every time. Sometimes, you rarely see the progress you are seeking. 

These types of things can cause discouragement. Discouragement can hinder your progress. Discouragement can steal your passion. Discouragement can take you from extraordinary to ordinary. Discouragement is like taking the steel knife you are making and quenching it in water. It hardens your heart, but it also makes it easier to crack. 

There are other passions than work. Some are passionate about their hobbies. Some are passionate about their politics. Some are passionate about God.

Let us look at that last one. Many people are searching for some meaning in life. When they find a relationship (not a religion) with God, it brings passion into their lives. They devote themselves to studying His word, sharing their faith, and helping other people. These people are “on fire.”

Over the years, I have seen many people let the fire fizzle. They become judgmental. They get stuck in a routine. They get discouraged for various reasons. They just seem to burn out. I remember one woman who told me after I first became a Christian about 35 years ago that the fire I had would soon burn out. I guess encouraging people was not her gift.

However, we decide for ourselves when the fire burns out. If you are using fire to keep warm and it begins to go out, you do not just sit there hoping the fire comes back. You fan the flames and add wood to the fire. The same thing is true for the passion we have within us. We have to fan the flames. 2 Timothy 1 tells us to stir up the gift that is in us. We must do that. No one else will stir us up. We must guard our hearts against things that steal our passion. We must encourage ourselves to press forward. We must continue doing the things we know are good. Do not let the fire go out.

The Laundry Issue

I washed a load of clothes a few weeks ago. Doing the laundry is not new to me, but my wife normally handles the laundry duties. I see now that she is much better at it than I am.

I sorted the clothes, put them in the washing machine, added detergent and fabric softener, and turned on the washer. This is not a hard process and things went according to plan. At least I thought they did. 

I put on a pair of jeans after they came out of the dryer and went to work. It was on the way to work that I realized something was wrong. The problem was not that my jeans smelled like lavender. The problem was that it had an overwhelming lavender scent. Do not get me wrong.  Lavender has a lovely smell. However, too much lavender is not so lovely when you smell it all day long.

The problem was not the fabric softener. It did what it was supposed to do. The problem was that I used too much. I have this issue; when I see a line that says max, I fill things up to that line. I do not go above it, but I will go to the maximum line.

For the most part, fabric softener is a good thing, but it can ruin your day when too much is applied.

The same thing goes for the things we use daily.

Social media, for example, is normally a good thing. It helps connect us with family and friends. It can entertain us by seeing the posts of others. There are memes, jokes, and funny stories that have happened to those we know. I have met new friends on social media that I would love to meet in person someday.

Social media is also a place where we can do some networking. I know of one such place that helped someone find a job.

Social media can also ruin your day. People do not always use these things correctly. Some use it to gain their fifteen minutes of fame. Others mimic ridiculous acts often causing injury or death. Others use social media to force their agenda on you. I do not mind a civilized and logical debate; however, shoving your opinion down my throat will never get me to change my opinion. I even hate seeing the opinions to which I agree being shoved down the throats of others. Tell me once or twice and I get your point. Tell me 700 times, and I will quit listening. I prefer to see things that make my day happier and not divisive.

Like fabric softener, too much of anything can cause things to stink. Some people prefer to stink. Some people enjoy throwing their pearls to pigs. However, pigs do not wear pearls. There are many good in this life on which to focus. Do not choose to think only on the negative, divisive issues that we face. Some issues need to be addressed, but they are not the only thing happening.

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Those seem like better things on which to focus our attention. Take a second to do a smell test. Do the things you post come across as sweet and lovely or do they come across as foul? Try to make someone’s day rather than trying to ruin it.