The pavement had ended and soon the dirt road that took its place had vanished as well.  A serpent like trail twists its way into the dark forest that stretches out before me; so I leave the car and begin to walk into the unknown.  I began this trek on a quest to photograph the natural splendor of my wild Alabama.  I am always amazed at the diverse beauty that can be discovered by anyone with the patience and desire to search for it.

        On this gorgeous day I stumbled upon many treasures that seemed a little out of this world.  I remember peering into the roots and soil that a large fallen tree had hoisted into the air.  The dirt seemed to be crawling before my eyes.  It apparently was home to a large colony of snails; each one racing from root to root feasting on something dark and slimy.  I chased bugs and butterflies that resembled tree bark.  I was treated to a symphony of sound; the birds and the beetles each performed and sang their hearts out.

        The only thing that “bugged” me was this; almost every time I came across a large fallen tree I saw a lizard that I was unable to photograph.  It was not the same lizard, but I am sure they all played a part in the evil plot to ruin my day.  Afterwards I referred to this as The Lizard Conspiracy.  I would crawl over the debris and just about the time I would press the shutter they began to laugh at me and then scamper off to the next tree and wait for my arrival.  At least a dozen times I attempted to capture one of these clever lizards and each time I was foiled.

        It was not until my walk back to civilization that I almost stepped on this beautiful specimen.  He had dug a hole in the sand and was waiting on breakfast.  As I observed my new best friend I was surprised at his patience.  Here was somebody that had something valuable to teach me; the importance of patience.  Too often I am like the members of the Lizard Conspiracy running here and there; lots of movement but very little progress.  Today let us take a lesson from a patient lizard and realize that good things come to those who can wait.  Happiness is a choice; choose to be patient.

Something to think about:

• We do not obtain the most precious gifts by going in search of them but by waiting for them.

• What we need is patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished; what is destructive is impatience, haste, expecting too much too fast.

• He that can have patience can have what he wills.  All comes at the proper time to him who knows how to wait.

• Never become irritable while waiting; if you are patient, you’ll find that you can wait much faster.

• One moment of patience may prevent disaster; one moment of impatience may ruin a life.

• Only those who have the patience to do simple things perfectly will acquire the skill to do difficult things easily.

• Patience and diligence, like faith, remove mountains.

• The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it open.

Thankful for my patient friends
Rickey Moore