Roly Poly

Roly Polies are magical creatures. I saw one today on the sidewalk as I walked from my class to my car, and it instantly put a smile on my face.

Remember the days of our youth? We spent so much time looking under rocks hoping to find one of these neat little bugs that rolls into a ball when you touch it. It's a protective mechanism, sure, but it's also just darn cute and intriguing. It's embarrassing to admit - even at 23, I still think it's cute. And I still smile.

Not many protective mechanisms make us smile. We're so good at the things we do to protect ourselves, and most of the time, they work, but we, like the sal beetle, get stuck in our protection and can no longer move. We can no longer see what's coming after us because we've got our head tucked between our feet. So it works, but at what cost?

God amazes me. He's given us so many ways that we protect ourselves. For me, it's always been hatred and denial. And they work, but they also paralyze us.

What's the point of a defense mechanism if it inevitably leaves you more vulnerable?