The Legend Of The Spider And The Silken Strand...

THE LEGEND OF THE SPIDER AND THE
SILKEN STRAND HELD IN GOD'S HAND

by HELEN STEINER RICE



THERE'S AN OLD DANISH LEGEND
WITH THE LESSON FOR US ALL
OF AN AMBITIOUS SPIDER
AND HIS RISE AND HIS FALL,
WHO WOVE HIS SHEER WEB
WITH INTRICATE CARE
AS IT HUNG SUSPENDED
SOMEWHERE IN MIDAIR,
THEN IN SOFT, IDLE LUXURY
HE FEASTED EACH DAY
ON THE SMALL, FOOLISH INSECTS
HE ENTICED AS HIS PREY,
GROWING EVER MORE ARROGANT
AND SMUG ALL THE WHILE
HE LIVED LIKE A "KING,"
IN SELF-SATISFIED STYLE-
AND GAZING ONE DAY
AT THE SHEER STRAND SUSPENDED,
HE SAID, "I DON'T NEED THIS,"
SO HE RECKLESSLY RENDED
THE STRAND THAT HAD HELD
HIS WEB IN ITS PLACE
AND WITH SUDDEN SWIFTNESS
THE WEB CRUMBLED IN SPACE-
AND THAT WAS THE END
OF THE SPIDER WHO GREW
SO ARROGANTLY PROUD
THAT HE NO LONGER KNEW
THAT IT WAS THE STRAND
THAT REACHED DOWN FROM ABOVE
LIKE THE CHORD OF GOD'S GRACE
AND HIS INFINITE LOVE
THAT LINKS OUR LIVES
TO THE GREAT UNKNOWN,
FOR MAN CANNOT LIVE
OR EXIST ON HIS OWN-
AND THIS OLD LEGEND
WITH SIMPLICITY TOLD
IS A MORAL AS TRUE
AS THE LEGEND IS OLD-
DON'T SEVER THE "LIFELINE"
THAT LINKS YOU TO
THE FATHER IN HEAVEN
WHO CARES FOR YOU.







O MY STRENGTH, TO YOU I SING PRAISES,
FOR YOU, O GOD, ARE MY REFUGE,
THE GOD WHO SHOWS ME UNFAILING LOVE.



PSALM 59:17
NLT



PROTECT ME AS YOU WOULD PROTECT YOUR OWN EYE.
HIDE ME UNDER THE SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS.



PSALM 17:8
NCV



O GUARD MY LIFE, AND DELIVER ME;
DO NOT LET ME BE PUT TO SHAME,
FOR I TAKE REFUGE IN YOU.



PSALM 25:20
NRSV



HOW PRECIOUS IS THY
LOVINGKINDNESS, O GOD!
AND THE CHILDREN OF MEN TAKE REFUGE IN THE
SHADOW OF THY WINGS.



PSALM 36:7
NAS



THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE; I WILL
NOT FEAR: WHAT CAN MAN DO UNTO ME?



PSALM 118:6
NJV



HE ALWAYS REMEMBERS HIS PROMISE,
THE WORD THAT HE COMMANDED FOR A THOUSAND GENERATIONS, THE PROMISE THAT HE MADE TO ABRAHAM,
AND HIS SWORN OATH TO ISAAC.



PSALM 105:8-9
GOD'S WORD