RUFUS GOOFUS

Ever watch hummingbirds eat?

The Selasphorus Rufus (hereafter known as Ruf) hummingbird is a sight to behold. Ruf is known as a "dominate feeder," that, loosely translated, means Ruf is the 500 pound gorilla when eating time comes around. With hummingbirds that's every waking moment of everyday of their fast and furious lives.

I was sitting in my office which overlooks a hummingbird feeder (actually in my office I tend to overlook a lot of things, but I digress) when I saw my first Ruf. Two non-Rufs were busily flitting from one feeder eating hole to another, and out of nowhere comes Ruf. The other two would have wet their pants if they could have found a pair to fit their spindly little legs. Ruf then began the process of doing his "dominate" thing and guarding the food supply so that no other hummer could feed.

To get something, you have to give up something. Ruf, to get sole possession of the food, had to give up something. What he had to give up was any time for him to eat the food he so jealously guarded. Ruf was so busy keeping others away, he couldn't eat. Sounds foolish doesn't it?

Let's ascend the food chain. My wife, Jean, taught 5th grade. A couple of times a year she had an "auction" in which the kids, using "Good Job " tickets which they have earned over the school year, bid on various items which Jean had brought in. Last auction a student named Destiny really wanted a small pitcher. Thomas another student, not knowing Destiny wanted the pitcher, outbid her. She was crushed, sad to see, but hey that's life in fifth grade (and everywhere else). In the process of wrapping the pitcher for his mother, Thomas got fifth grade boy-itis and dropped it. He now had a bag of smithereens for his mother. Jean later spoke to Destiny about what she thought of the events of the day and she said, "At first I was glad, but then I felt sad that nobody would be able to enjoy the pitcher"--a concept completely alien to Ruf.

When it comes to getting, or not getting, what you want, grade schools are full of lessons. During this same auction, Shelby a girl with special education needs really wanted a music box with a dancing clown. Shelby had 42 tickets to bid. The other kids knew that Shelby wanted that particular music box--the rest of the class stopped bidding at 40. Shelby had her music box with the dancing clown

When you don't get what you want, are you more like Ruf or Mrs. Payne's 5th grade class?



Lesson: Don't get your shorts in a wad over not having something, be happy for those who have it.