The Story of the Dragonfly

Once, there lived a little water beetle in a community of water beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond. At times, one beetle would climb the stem of a lily pad and would never be seen again. The beetles knew that when this happened, their friend was gone forever.

One day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge to climb up that stem. He was determined that he would not leave forever, but instead he would come back and tell his friends what he had found at the top. When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so warm, that he decided he must take a nap. As he slept, his body changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying. So, fly he did!

As he soared he saw the beauty of a whole new world and a far more beautiful life than he could have ever imagined. His new body would not go down into the water. He could not get back to tell his friends the good news. Then he understood that their time would come, when they, too, would know what he now knew. He raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life-his heart content in knowing that his life had not ended, and his true purpose fulfilled. So, he raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life.