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One very apparent limitation of the snake is the absence of legs. Despite its limitations, it has gained the reputation of being one of the smartest creatures in the animal kingdom, being able to manoeuvre its way through various habitations such as the sandy deserts, forests, rivers and even oceans.
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Do you particularly like snakes or are you one of a third of human beings who are afraid of the slithering creature? What would you do if you found an anaconda in the compound of your home or office?
My wife Jackie is absolutely petrified of snakes. Judging by how she reacts when she sees one on TV, I can just imagine what she would do if we found one in the compound of our home. I bet she’ll move out, and even if I managed to kill the deadly creature, she’ll insist that we move houses, and that’s how bad many people fear snakes.
Ophidiophobia is the most commonly reported fear among humans and research shows that about a third of human beings are ophidiophobic –meaning the fear of snakes. The word comes from the Greek words ‘ophis’ which refers to snakes and ‘phobia’ meaning fear.
The last time I checked, there are trillions of animals on the face of the earth, with some 10,000 new species of animals discovered each year. But have you ever thought about which of this endless list of animals is the wisest of them all?This is a question I like to pose wherever I speak on Wisdom and I normally get answers like – the owl, the eagle, the ant –and some even say it is the tortoise!
My answer to this rather difficult question of the wisest animal on earth is drawn from the Bible where on two different occasions God mentions the snake as the wisest in the animal kingdom. He goes to the extent of encouraging human beings to be as wise as snakes – not as parrots, monkeys or cats – but as snakes.
The question then is how wise is the snake and what kind of wisdom can we glean from this slithering creature?Don’t forget that we’re still on our journey of radically growing in wisdom and we know that learning from wise animals is one of the unique ways to grow in wisdom as human beings.
Self-control
A tale is told of a man who being born of a royal family, and being a doyen in skill, knowledge and wisdom, resorted to living a simple, humble and generous life. His way of life got to the king who honoured him for his ‘godly’ life. This kind man, amazed by the reward, set out to find out why he was rewarded by the king. Was it his temperance, his noble birth, his wealth, or his wisdom that had brought him such great honour?
He wandered till he got to a place where a group of snake charmers were plying their trade. They were having fun playing with a poisonous cobra, touching it by its neck, tail and coiling the snake around their necks. He had never seen anything like that. He was alarmed and feared greatly for the people. He insisted that they stopped what they were doing. ‘You can be bitten by it. It is very dangerous’, he said. But in reply they told him, ‘this cobra is a good animal, he is our source of income and great entertainment. We love it’.
That was when it dawned on him that by self-temperance and holding on to self-control, even a deadly reptile can be considered ‘good’.
In reflection, do we resort to aggression at the least provocation? Do we control our own actions and are we justified to be rude, offensive, insensitive and derogatory even if the other party is wrong? Do you lord it over your subordinates just because you are the boss and have the power?
Self-control is defined as the ability to control one’s emotion, behaviours and desires in the face of external demands. Being self-controlled is one principal wisdom trait that can be gleaned from the life of snakes.
Snakes, despite the enormous potential of causing harm from the venom they possess will only resort to biting as a last option in case of any threat.
Snakes reveal the wisdom in the fact that just because you possess the power to do something does not mean the thing should be done.
Let nothing stop you
One very apparent limitation of the snake is the absence of legs. It has no legs and this is known by all. Despite its limitations, it has gained the reputation of being one of the smartest creatures in the animal kingdom, being able to manoeuvre its way through various habitations such as the sandy deserts, forests, rivers and even oceans.
One particular lesson worth noting is that it emphasizes on its strengths rather than focusing on its limitations. The snake is subtle, swift, and venomous and has the power of constriction. Snakes fully take advantage of their strength in any situation and it is no surprise it has survived for years the threat from man and civilisation.
In application to everyday life, we can focus on our core strengths and capabilities rather than making excuses for our inefficiencies because of what we do not have. Everyone has a unique skill or God-given talent that can be harnessed. This potential fully harnessed can be used to great gain.
Indeed, several examples can be given of people who looked beyond their limitations and have now gained iconic statuses in the world. Best-known hymns like ‘Blessed Assurance’, ‘Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour’, and ‘To God Be the Glory sang at nearly every Christian wedding were written by Fanny Crosby who was amazingly blind. She is one of the prolific hymnists ever known in history.
We could also learn from Helen Keller, who was attacked with a brain fever at age 2 and therefore became blind, deaf and mute (pause and imagine this predicament). Keller however did not allow her disability to deter her, at age 24, she graduated from college. In her lifetime, Keller despite her disability, met great leaders and received several awards as an advocate for people with disabilities amid numerous other causes.
Hold your breath and read this self introduction of an Australian man born without hands and legs: ‘Hi, my name is Nick Vujicic and I am thankful to have been born 30 years ago with no hands and legs. I won’t pretend my life is easy, but through the love of my parents, loved ones, and faith on God, I have overcome my adversity and my life is now filled with joy and purpose. I was born in Melbourne and it was a shock to my parents that I arrived without limbs. There is no medical reason for it. My parents did their best to keep me in school and gave me every opportunity to live life to the fullest. I was blessed to have a brother and a sister as my best friends too, and now I’m happily married to my wife Kanae.’
Despite being handless and legless, Nick has trained himself to do more than the average human being –he has a double bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance, he has addressed over 3 million people in more than 60 countries, he has authored a book; he’s starred in a movie that has won multiple awards.Nick swims (without arms and legs just like a snake does);he plays golf and is a philanthropist. And you, with all your hands and legs, what have you done with your life apart from blaming your background, the bad economy, and your employer?
The wisdom the snake teaches us is that the biggest obstacle to our progress is ourselves. If we don’t overcome our challenges, our challenges will overcome us. Let today be the last day you’ll give a single reason why your life is not shining.
Be open to change
Among the several other attributes of the snake that has enabled it survive over the years in various habitations is its adaptability. Snakes have adapted to their environments in a number of ways which include relying on the sense of smell rather than sight, developing physical traits to enable quick movements in their habitats, and being sensitive to the environment.
Whether it is the hottest deserts or the coldest mountain peaks, the bush lands or in the water, they have been able to find a way to survive and reproduce. Snakes also shed their scaly skin to rid themselves of parasites.
What can we learn from this?There cannot be just a one tried-and-tested method of success in all endeavours. In the current dispensation of competition across every walk of life, it is important that a person arms himself or herself with various strategies in order to be successful. We should be open to change and be quick to adapt to a harsh condition.
An awareness of the happenings within your immediate environment can create a competitive advantage as you can respond faster to changes. Business leaders, employees, and even institutions should be in constant touch with the environment within which they operate in order to be proactive when the need arises.
Just like the snake, there should be no fear in letting go of an obsolete process or an outmoded tradition when new trends can be adopted. Usually, people get stuck to the old way of doing things and would resist any attempts of change. The snake sheds the old scales. Similarly, if new technology, personnel or processes can be adopted to enhance productivity and quality of work, why not give it a try?
Be careful who you deal with
A chameleon changes its colors to deceive others, and a snake in the grass can bite you without your knowledge. There’s an Akan proverb which says that if something will hurt you, it would come from within or around you’.
I don’t believe in being apprehensive of everyone around you, but you cannot be careless either. You cannot leave everything to chance. That is why banks run background checks on people before giving them loans. Employers conduct referee and police checks and sometimes contact previous employers before they take on new staff.
The fact is that, in business, many people want to hide some part of themselves. They only want to show that part of themselves that they think is acceptable, so you should learn to use your gut instinct, ignore what people say and scrutinize their actions.
Invest a little time searching the internet for public records, reviews and complaints against people and companies you wish to do business with for clues about their character and how they have treated other people in the past.You may have to dig for information about how to access arrest records. Professional investigators and consulting firms may also be hired to do background checks on businesses, corporations and individuals.
I dare say that careful investigation is only applicable in a business or corporate setting but such wisdom should be extended to all important relationships in our lives – including the people we confide in and partners we choose for marriage.
I know a young woman who’s presently in jail because she got into a relationship with a ‘nice guy she knew little about. The woman told me that she was driving out with the guy one day when the police pulled up and arrested both of them. Apparently, the guy was a serial armed robber who was wanted by the police. The young woman got charged as an accomplice and is now serving more than 10 years in jail!
The experience of snakes-in-the-grass teaches us to be careful about whom we deal with in all spheres of our lives.
Be decisive and focused
The snake depends on its forked tongue in smelling. Most snakes have a poor vision so they pick up objects with a smell using their tongue. They move towards where the signal is greatest and when they are sure of the prey, they make a direct and focused attack. This teaches us that we shouldn’t jump at any decision just because it is trending or looks convenient. We should progress on the basis of research and understanding. And when the final decision is made, all energies should be directed at the decision to make it successful.
Are you determined to live an outstanding life? If you are, then let these amazing truths and wisdom from the life of the snake guide you. The next time you see a snake on TV or in your neighbourhood, don’t be overcome with fear, rather, be overcome with the awe that such a limbless, disabled animal can rise above its limitations to do the impossible. Let this thought inspire you to stretch yourself to overcome the social, psychological, financial or physical barriers that seem to prevent you from achieving your dreams.
Author: DR. KOFI OSEI-KUSI
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OSEI-KUSI FOUNDATION
