Ant Philosophy

One day in my mind's eye, deep in the silence, I saw ants walking in lines, carrying giant, lush, green leaves that were huge compared to their tiny bodies — like the one in the picture, but imagine the leaf being carried perpendicular to the ant like a big round circle rising above the ant.  I knew the ants had come to teach me. This is what they said:

“There are those who look down on you and see you as tiny creatures that are a hive of activity, just as you look down and see us as tiny creatures always on the go. 

See how much we can carry and how big and lush is our load. We may be tiny and you may not always like us, but we can achieve big things. 

I am sure you think you can achieve big things too. But in the scheme of things you are but ants, with those who observe not always sure what you are doing or why.

We may be tiny but our load is big. See how lush and green our load is? See how straight we carry it and how carefully, in spite of our tiny size? Our load is big, bright and colourful, and we carry it with purpose.

What is your purpose? What load do you carry and why? Is your purpose large and vibrant? Will it sustain? 

We are always busy but we are busy with purpose. Do you have a purpose? Is there purpose behind your busy-ness. 

We are orderly, and we achieve a lot. So don’t look down on us. 

I know you like to get rid of us. Why, when we are so tiny, do we get in your way? How can something so tiny be such a threat? See how easily you judge and want to be rid, without ever understanding why we are here. Or even questioning why you are here and what our connection is. 

Our role is huge and we work with purpose, always for the common good. Watch us and learn, for you have much to learn about community, service and purpose. Things are not always as they seem. 

We do what we do, because we know in our heart of hearts that there is purpose. We are working for the common good and that is all that is. We are tiny, as you are tiny, and we work with purpose whilst you worry about what your purpose is. Our purpose is in doing, not wondering, and we achieve great things for such tiny beings.

When you are busy and on the go, think of us, and consider, am I on the go with purpose? Am I on the go for the common good, the greater good? Is the load I carry one that will nourish and sustain me and those I am in community with? Will it serve all that is? 

Everything I do, I do with purpose for the greater good of my kind, but also for all that is. For that is the natural world I am part of. Would you destroy that?

See how bright and green is my load, full of so much life and vitality. This is the vitality of the natural world and it is here to nourish and sustain us. We are part of this world and we have our role and we are important too. We are happy to connect and wish to be acknowledged as everything in the universe is connected.

Remember you are but ants in the universe and your role is big too. But you don’t want to be trodden on as insignificant, do you?”

In the end the ants bring their leaves together to create a platform, and they are dancing and celebrating. They continue:

“Thank you, we are celebrating a new beginning and a coming together of all kinds. Thank you for listening and accepting us. We are honoured to be able to teach you, instead of being squashed.”
​© Snowdrop
Thanks to perezvcking @ pixabay.com for the photo.