Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Desert lizard
Good morning,
An observation of a little creature
A desert lizard was climbing up a steep sand dune, whatever for; the desert was so vast and barren. As it wriggled up about a foot or so the sand slid almost as much downwards. Nevertheless it gained a few inches upwards. It persisted in its journey, struggling upwards a little height each time. At times it appeared that it would give up the attempt, but it did not, pausing and sizing up the situation after every few moves. Observing it doing this is akin to watching an act of futility, an event unlikely to end successfully fruitful even if it did manage to get over the dune; there would just be other similar dunes, all equally barren. What was the lizard working at, surely it knew much more than its observer. And as it turned out, it finally got up to the ridge of the dune, looking great with its head raised high, like a conqueror of Mount Everest.
This story serves more than one purpose.
Firstly, it is a struggle for survival for the lizard. There is no certainty that there is food on the other side of the dune, yet it must get over for another situation or die anyway where it was. This fighting spirit is a lesson for survival.
Secondly, if a small animal knows how to struggle to survive, does it not open the view that the world does not set the table of dinner for us. Is not the sand dune somewhat like the difficulties we face in life ? Setbacks are always with us, they just make our efforts a little more challenging and worthwhile. Else what is there to achieve and to glorify about.
Thirdly, it is the basis for a riddle. On the basis that the lizard's climb is consistent, the sand dune is 12 feet high, and each time the lizard gains 3 inches for a 12 inches move, how many moves must the lizard make to reach the top ? Remember, each time it moves up 12 inches it slides down 9 inches, gaining only 3 inches.
Have a nice day
Ronald
The answer is sevomevifytrof.
An observation of a little creature
A desert lizard was climbing up a steep sand dune, whatever for; the desert was so vast and barren. As it wriggled up about a foot or so the sand slid almost as much downwards. Nevertheless it gained a few inches upwards. It persisted in its journey, struggling upwards a little height each time. At times it appeared that it would give up the attempt, but it did not, pausing and sizing up the situation after every few moves. Observing it doing this is akin to watching an act of futility, an event unlikely to end successfully fruitful even if it did manage to get over the dune; there would just be other similar dunes, all equally barren. What was the lizard working at, surely it knew much more than its observer. And as it turned out, it finally got up to the ridge of the dune, looking great with its head raised high, like a conqueror of Mount Everest.
This story serves more than one purpose.
Firstly, it is a struggle for survival for the lizard. There is no certainty that there is food on the other side of the dune, yet it must get over for another situation or die anyway where it was. This fighting spirit is a lesson for survival.
Secondly, if a small animal knows how to struggle to survive, does it not open the view that the world does not set the table of dinner for us. Is not the sand dune somewhat like the difficulties we face in life ? Setbacks are always with us, they just make our efforts a little more challenging and worthwhile. Else what is there to achieve and to glorify about.
Thirdly, it is the basis for a riddle. On the basis that the lizard's climb is consistent, the sand dune is 12 feet high, and each time the lizard gains 3 inches for a 12 inches move, how many moves must the lizard make to reach the top ? Remember, each time it moves up 12 inches it slides down 9 inches, gaining only 3 inches.
Have a nice day
Ronald
The answer is sevomevifytrof.
# posted by chunmu @ 7:57 PM 
