The Nature of Things
Scorpion was walking down a deserted forest path one day and before long came across a deep and swift running river. Standing there, in front of the fast moving river, he pondered to himself, how could he ever cross this mighty river? After a bit, Scorpion sees Turtle paddling slowly up the river.
Scorpion shouts out to turtle, “Hey, Turtle, may I speak with you?”
Turtle hollers back, “Scorpion, I am busy, I do not have time to speak to you today.”
“But it is very important, Turtle, please, I must speak with you!” Scorpion yells.
Turtle cautiously paddles towards the shore, wondering why Scorpion would be bothering him this day.
“What is so important that you would stop me today?” asked Turtle.
“It is most urgent that I cross the river,” replied Scorpion, “But I can not swim. If you would be so kind as to carry me across I would be forever in your debt.”
Scorpion seeing the doubt in Turtle’s eyes chimes in, “Turtle, you are such a strong and sure swimmer it would be nothing for you to carry me across the river.”
Still skeptical Turtles says, “Scorpion, how can I be sure you won’t sting me and kill me?”
Scorpion replies, “Turtle, if I sting you then I can not get across the river. It does not benefit me to sting you. Besides, if I were to sting you and you die, I would drown. I do not wish to drown. I need to get across the river.”
Turtle contemplates for a moment, and then says, “Ok Scorpion, if I do this for you then someday if I am ever in need you will repay me?”
“Yes, of course Turtle, anything you wish,” answered Scorpion.
With that, Turtle paddled over to the shore, and Scorpion climbed upon his back. Turtle slowly made his way across the strong and swift current of the river with ease. Halfway across the river scorpion pulls out his stinger and smacks Turtle on top of the head.
Turtle screams, “Scorpion, what have you done? You promised you wouldn’t sting me. I don’t understand why you would do such a thing. Now I’m going to die and you’re going to drown!”
Surprised at himself, Scorpion replies, “I know Turtle, I am sorry, but I couldn’t help myself, it is my nature.”
What is the moral to this story? The true nature of one’s self is what it is. No matter how hard we try and how much we want to change, the bottom line is, we are what we are. We can pretend and we can tell ourselves we are different, but in the end our true nature will always come out.
