A spider's lesson

We just returned from a morning at the Buddhist Hermitage in Lunas. Nothing extraordinary happened, except that we saw this huge spider. Is it a golden orb weaver? No matter, it's one big mean specimen, a true wonder of nature. I would estimate that its body length alone - excluding the legs - would measure some 1.5 inches long. However, a closer examination would reveal that it is missing a leg. Sad to see that in such a beautiful creature. But this is a lesson in survival. Despite obstacles that life puts in our paths, we will still find a way to live, grow and be successful.