Impossible Becomes Possible

Many, many years ago I did missions work in Belize, Central America. I recall the long and dreaded Hummingbird Highway. We dreaded the highway because at that time, before it was paved, it was known for having the ability to destroy a new set of Goodyear tires with just one trip. So perilous was the trip that it would take us five hours to travel ninety miles. We rode up and down, while bumping and bouncing around for what seemed like an eternity. Oh, how I would pray while passing a school bus at a point that seemed to have been made for only one vehicle at a time. And there we were, two vehicles side by side maneuvering between a mountain wall on one side and nothing but a cliff on the other side.

On one occasion we had to leave the house and travel the Hummingbird Highway because of ants. You heard me correctly. We had to travel to another house for five hours over a bumpy and very dangerous highway. And yes, it was all because of some ants. I was told that the ants were coming and we needed to leave. Leave? Why not just spray the ants and not allow these little pests to change our plans and move us out of our house? This made no sense to me. It was very simple to me, just kill the ants and let’s get back to business.

I was shown a trail of marching ants and was told to follow the trail. I followed the ants until the house was out of sight. I never found the end of the trail of ants. I was then taught that when the ants come in the jungle, all that you can do is leave and that you cannot return until the ants are done doing whatever they want to do. That’s right! Because of some ants, everything had to change. Because of some ants that marched together without any apparent leader, we the bigger, smarter and stronger had to yield to their purpose.

Maybe this is why the ancient writer instructs us to consider the ways of the ant. A single ant is considered weak. But when ants come together without a leader and without pay, very little if anything can stand in their way. Ants will work until their mission is accomplished. Nothing seems to discourage them from their pursuit.

See the power of togetherness through the eyes of an ant. Forget about a title or who gets the credit or who does the most work. Remember that results cannot be measured beforehand of what a people, group or team can do when collaboration is at work. No matter how weak we are as individuals, when the one becomes many, then the impossible becomes possible.