Let the scorpions drown

I really enjoy and relate to the story of the “Scorpion and The Frog.” Even though it is a children’s story it could have been a parable in religious text. You probably know the story or I have already referred to it in  a previous post but here is the gist of it.

So a scorpion asks a frog to give him a ride across a river. The frog is hesitant but the scorpion convinces the frog that he will not sting. So the frog agrees and they start crossing the river. Midway, the scorpion stings the frog. Shocked, the frog asks why and reminds the scorpion that they will both drown. The scorpion says [I’m a scorpion, duhhhh.] I’m paraphrasing because by memory is like Dory from Finding Nemo but that’s basically how the story goes.

We all have people that we care dearly about and want to help but we know that they have a history of being ungrateful, destructive, indiscipline, and you can go on from there. Still we believe we can change them but showing them kindness or giving them our resources or opportunities. These people are scorpions and you are playing the role of a frog. Until their nature-their ethics and level of discipline changes they will continue to take, take and take. This change is not going to be achieved by your kindness as you are enabling, supporting and sustaining them in their current dysfunctional behavior. They have to be left alone to proverbially drown, if they survive they will be again proverbially baptized and hopefully come out as a better person.

We have seen it many times. Lets use the example of the rock stars who didn’t quit abusing substances until a tragic event happened to them. Suffering from your own destructive behaviors either ultimately destroys you or it opens your eyes to change. Those are the only two ways out unless a frog comes along to insulate that person from their karma. We can learn from experience or from example. Example is the safest and most efficient way to learn, but if you are not open to learning from example then you must experience.

This may relate to a variety of relationships, romantic and otherwise. Let the scorpions drown or they will keep stinging you because you are not learning from the bad examples and bad experiences they have been giving you.