MY FRIEND, ROY

Roy is a spider.

A very big spider.

I didn't make friends with him right away.

At first, I had to make sure what kind of spider he was. Having satisfied myself that he was NOT a Brown Recluse – (and that my life wasn't in any immediate danger) – I further researched and found out he was a Garden Orb Weaver.

Hence, the name Roy – as in Roy ORBison. (I hear groaning out there in Blog Land…)

Actually Roy might be a she – he might be Charlotte (as in Charlotte's Web – more groaning?!) – but I like the name Roy. Plus, I skipped Biology class on the day they taught us how to determine the sex of spiders. (Do you just go up and ask them?)

So, let me tell you the story of Roy.

One morning about two months ago – a cold, drizzly, foggy morning – I saw this rather spectral, flimsy, ghost-like "something" shimmering at the corner of my kitchen window. I have a sunshade on this garden window, so it wasn't clear right away what I was looking at. I pulled the shade up – and there was Roy. Firmly planted right in the middle of a web of sparkling diamond dewdrops.

Glorious.

I gotta tell you, Roy makes an impressive web.

It's all uniform, symmetrical, intricate. And it's huge! Probably measures about 18 – 20 inches across. (I haven't actually measured it because I just don't have the heart to interfere with his business by sticking my tape measure up in his face!)

Since that morning, I've checked on him every day.

One day he was gone. Or at least I thought so. But later that day, in the pre-evening dusky light, there he was – patiently reconstructing another web. Evidently, once in awhile he takes down an old web – I watched him do it once – and then makes another new one later on.

One day it was really windy. Roy's web developed a gaping hole in one side of it. No worries. Next morning all the necessary repairs were made.

And one day "The Hub" – forgetting about Roy – walked around the corner of the house and pretty much destroyed the web. I got all upset –

"Where's Roy? Did you hurt him?"

Yes, for a spider.

But, have no fear, next morning Roy was back – just like the faithful little sentinel he is.

I like watching what he catches. Mostly it's just gnats and teeny little creatures that I can barely see. Once he got a fly. Feast time for Roy.

I know someday he's going to be gone. It's just the way their lives are. But until then, I like having Roy around.

Would you believe that he's taught me some things about God? (You know me…)

First of all, Roy has taught me about perseverance. He has taught me how to withstand the inclement elements of this world. We face a lot of "stuff" on this old, fallen planet...

Sometimes our carefully constructed *webs* get gaping holes in them, sometimes they get destroyed, sometimes someone just plows right into us, and sometimes we find that we need to completely dismantle them and start all over again.

I find that discouraging.

But not Roy.

You see, Roy has a purpose. And that is to catch things for sustenance – and to make other spiders.

I've got a purpose, too.

It's not that dissimilar really. Spiritually, I also need to "catch" the things of God for sustenance – and then, I am to go out and spread the Word to make other disciples.

I ought not tire of the work.

Roy doesn't. And why? Because that’s what he was made to do.

Second, Roy has taught me about how to catch things. I read about the webs of Garden Orb Weavers. It's really quite fascinating.

You see, the Garden Orb Weaver does not use poison to kill their prey, nor sticky threads in their web. No, their threads can be recognized by their fuzzy appearance, which captures prey by a Velcro-like mechanism.

And Roy has a special body part made just for spinning his web. He has a cribellum:

"The cribellum is a silk spinning organ found in certain spiders. Unlike normal spinnerets, the cribellum consists of one or more plates covered in thousands of tiny spigots. These spigots produce extremely fine fibers which are combed out by the spider's calamistrum, producing silk with a wooly texture. The fibers are so small in diameter that prey insects easily become entangled in them, without any glue needed." (From Wikipedia)

Before you think this is a class on spiders – (and no, there isn't going to be a pop quiz) – let me tell you why I liked this information.

It has something to do with how we attract others to Christ. How we win them with our words. How to make the Good News something they want to hear about.

We don't need to poison them with a "holier-than-thou" attitude.

We don't need to be all "sticky" – with a thousand "thou shalt not's" clogging up the way to the cross.

We do need to send out numerous little tendrils of friendship, and time, and prayer, and acceptance.

We do need to speak Truth – but Truth mixed in with large, large amounts of Love. We need to be *fuzzy.* (You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar).

We do need to entangle others in our joy, to capture them by our peace, to snare them with our hope.

No glue needed.

And finally, Roy taught me one other thing.

His steady little presence has been reassuring.

I've come out first thing every morning and looked for him. And there he is. Just like the day before. Just like the night before.

Steadfast, dependable, reliable.

Sound like anyone else?!

Roy is like the Lord.

Steadfast, dependable, reliable. Unmoving in His presence in my life. I can count on Him to be there. Just like the day before. Just like the night before. The Bible promises that the One who watches over me never slumbers, never sleeps. What a comfort that is.

My question is this – am I coming out first thing every morning and looking for Him?

I should be.

His steady presence is the only reassuring thing in this life.

So, as I finish this post, I'm going to go and look out my window at Roy (love my laptop!)

OH! He's on the move. He's crawling around. What's he up to? Is he repairing or re-constructing his web? Is he getting it all ready to catch some stuff? Is he feeding on the nourishment he's worked so hard to procure?

Don't know.

But, he sure is cute out there. And his web, though barely visible to the naked eye, is right this minute shining brightly in the mid-afternoon light.

Dear Lord – oh, that I might weave like Roy!

What kind of web are you weaving?

Today I am linked with Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY!

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"