I noted to my coworkers yesterday that it was the eve of the Ides of March, the day Caesar was executed. Someone laughed and said she liked that I knew that. I told her it shows I was paying attention when we read Julius Caesar in my high school English class.

The part of the Julius Caesar story which has always intrigued me is the role of the Soothsayer. He was believed to be able to see the future and he warned Caesar to “Beware the Ides of March,” letting him know something bad was going to happen. But he was dismissed. Looking further into the part, my interpretation is Caesar believed the Soothsayer was crazy, so that is why he did not take his advice seriously. But you can also argue Caesar knew of his importance, and the threat he posed to the Roman Empire. So to hear there might be impending danger was nothing new to him. He could have also thought his allies would be there for him should there be an attempt to have him overthrown. But it didn’t work out that way. He was stabbed by Brutus, who he thought was a friend.

Is there a Soothsayer in your circle? Not necessarily a fortune teller, but someone who has tried to tell you that things are not as you see. Sometimes it is an outcast, an oddball, or a person who is not part of the group. We have a tendency to write their warnings or advice off as nonsense. But consider this. Because they are on the outside looking in at everyone and the role they play, they have a clearer picture of the whole scene. You only see things from your own perspective. There could be a backstabber waiting for you in the wings.