What web will you weave?

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive." Sir Walter Scott penned that phrase back in 1808, and it still applies today. That's a lot of weaving. Find a person who claims they haven't woven a few tangled webs, and I'll show you someone currently knitting a full-blown sweater. Working with 10-year-olds since Watergate, I've heard some classic homework weaving: • "My mom lost it. Again." • "It flew out the window of the bus. Again." • "My dad spilled coffee on it. Again." • And my favorite: "I didn't feel good last night — I think I busted my spleen — but I'm better today." Here's a classic tale about a kingdom full of weavers: A childless emperor from China was desperate to find an heir to his throne. At his request, thousands of children came to the palace, hoping to be the chosen one. The emperor gave each child a seed and said, "Take it home, put it in a pot and water it daily. After a year, I will judge your plants and choose my heir." Simple, right? Well, not for young Ling. He couldn't get the seed to grow. He watered it, tended it and even talked to it. He gave it sunlight and nourishment every day — but, still, nothing. Just dirt. At the end of the year, though he worried how the emperor would react, Ling took his sad little empty pot to the palace. The emperor glanced at the pot but didn't say a word. He simply peered deeply into Ling's eyes and moved on. Ling was distraught. After admiring all the magnificent plants, the emperor rose to address the crowd. To everyone's astonishment, he called Ling to his throne and announced that he would be his successor. For all to hear, he said, "Last year, when you came, I gave all of you a boiled seed that couldn't grow. Yet I see thousands of beautiful plants. Only Ling showed the courage and integrity of a true leader. He will be the heir to my kingdom." So before we start spinning yarn, telling tall tales or pulling the wool over someone's eyes — again — maybe we should stop knitting full-blown sweaters and start being OK with sad little empty pots. Tony Legando is a lifelong educator, a hall-of-fame football coach and author of "To Lead a Good Life / Part 2" and "Fables for Young Leaders." He is also a public speaker who has inspired leaders for many years. You can contact him at legandot@gmail.com.