The Scorpion and the Frog

A scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream and the

scorpion asks the frog to carry him across on its back. The

frog asks, “How do I know you won’t sting me?” The scorpion

says, “Because if I do, I will die too.”

The frog is satisfied, and they set out, but in midstream,

the scorpion stings the frog. The frog feels the onset of

paralysis and starts to sink, knowing they both will drown,

but has just enough time to gasp “Why?”

Replies the scorpion: “Its my nature…”

I’ve heard this Aesop fable ages ago when I was young, but recently came across it again, and for reasons you will soon find out, it struck a chord.

But before I get into that, here’s a little story of my own:

The Girl and the Fries

A girl and her friend meet at the mall and the

friend asks the girl if she wants to eat fries.

She said no, because she wanted to be healthy.

The friend is satisfied, and they set out to eat healthy stuff,

but midway through ordering, the girl orders fries.

The friend gasps and asks “Why?”

Replies the girl: “Its my nature…”

I don’t think I need to tell you who the girl in the story is 🙂 Anyhow, it got me thinking about people’s nature, and whether or not they can change. I mean, my nature is to eat fries, and you don’t see me changing that anytime soon.

Okay, so first, let me confess : I haven’t let go. I know I said in my last post  that I would. But when a guy tells you “I love you” and “I will not go back to who I used to be”, you just kind of .. well.. believe him? Or rather, want to believe him.

And I really do want to believe that he can change. But I have to admit I am scared. What if the person he was – the kind of person I know  I can’t be with – what if that was his nature? And what if that can’t be changed?

What if he started off like the frog – with good intentions, you know. ‘Of course I won’t sting you, why would I do that’. But then, when I least expect it, while I am happily swimming in the stream, I would feel it – his sting. He might not have planned it or wanted it to happen, but like the scorpion, maybe it’s in his nature. Maybe he just can’t help himself.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, and I really didn’t know if I should believe him.

But then I heard this: “When you believe in people, people come through”

Maybe that’s what I should do? Believe him. Give him a second chance. Give him the benefit of the doubt. Find out if the scorpion will sting.

What do you guys think?