The Push of Fate

A woman standing behind a successful man, is always a hand who pushes him. It was a fine sunny afternoon and a group of tourists, who were determined to see some of the local flora and fauna from the riverside, found themselves at a crocodile farm. The farm was on the outskirts of a small town and was notorious for having one of the most fearsome and impressive collections of crocodiles in the region.

There were tourists from countries across the globe, seeing these animals live.

As they flocked in, snapping pictures and chattering excitedly, the owner of the farm a gruff middle aged man with a weathered face ambled over to welcome them. His eyes were sparkly mysteriously, as if he was about to tell, something most extraordinary.

"It's so nice to see you, ladies and gentlemen,'' he said confidently, smiling. ''Today, you are going to see things that you are not going to see in any ordinary zoo. Actually, I have a challenge for anyone here brave enough,'' The tourists exchanged looks of curiosity. His voice grew more dramatic, and the man continued. ''Whoever is brave enough to leap into the alligator infested pond, swim to the beach, and live will leave with a grand prize - $1,000,000.''

There was a stunned silence in the group. The idea of diving into a pool full of the world's deadliest predators would paralyze anyone. No one dared to move.

The man smiled smugly, looking around the group. ''I wondered if this might be too much for many of you. But maybe some of you are braver than others.''

Right before he turned to leave, there was a big splash across the pond. Everyone turned their heads at the water with eyes wide open in disbelief. A man, with a grim expression on his face, had just dove into the water and was swimming for dear life toward the far shore. The crocodiles crashed around him, in hot pursuit, as they crowded toward him.

The crowd gasped. Some were too frightened to watch, while others fixated on the scene, half awed and half horrified. Still the man swam with an astonishing determination, forcing his arms with all their strength and speed to keep flailing. The crocodiles chased closely behind him, snapping their jaws at the water inches from his feet. Yet, the man did not falter. As he approached the shore, the farm's owner, who had been standing at the shore watching, exclaimed in glee, ''We have a brave winner!''

In one last effort, the man crawled out of the water, soaked but very much alive. He reached shore, gasping for air, his heart pounding with adrenaline. Impressed by his bravery, the tourists cheered and clapped.

The man got up, still trembling, and approached the owner. ''You've done it,'' the owner said as he handed him a big check, smiling ear-to-ear. ''Here's your $1,000,000. Congratulations!''

The man looked down at the check in disbelief, his face still pale from the terrifying ordeal. ''I can't believe I made it,'' he said quietly, still trying to process what just happened.

That evening he and his wife went back to their hotel. When they walked into the lobby, the manager admired them. ''I heard about what happened today at the crocodile farm,'' he said. ''You were so brave to leap into that water. Not a lot of people would have had the guts to do that.''

The man smiled and shook his head. ''Actually, I was not jumping,'' he said, grinning slyly.

The manager was puzzled. ''You didn't? But.... but I watched you swimming with the crocodiles! How could you not have gotten involved?

The man chuckled and turned, looking at his wife, who stood beside him, grinning. ''Well, someone pushed me.''

His wife laughed out, ''I can't even believe it. ''He's telling the truth!'' she said. ''I pushed him in. I always knew he had that in him.''

The manager stared at the couple, shaking his head in disbelief. ''Well, it appears behind every successful man there's a woman who pushes him.''

The man nodded with a smile. ''So, there's always a little extra push you're not counting on, of course.''

And off the couple went upstairs to their room, chests puffed with the realization that at times, it's a little push of faith that's all you need.