On my walk today I found a large snail halfway across the road.
Tall person said that it was lucky not to have been squashed by a car.
He picked it up and placed it gently on the grass verge.
I asked him why he had picked it up and he said that everything needs a helping hand sometimes. I thought about that for a few moments and then suggested to the tall person that the snail might not have wanted any help – it had already reached halfway across the road. Tall person smiled and said that knowing that the snail might have been squashed meant that he had an obligation to intervene.
I thought about that and suggested to the tall person that it might have been better to allow fate and free will to determine the snail’s destiny.
Tall person nodded and said that sometimes it is a judgment call but each of us knowingly or unwittingly changes the course of everyone and everything we meet and they change ours. Each life and its direction is determined by intervention.
We stood in silence for a while and then he said that the easiest and sometimes most difficult thing to do is to do nothing when you know you should intervene.
Ah, so that is how wars start and snails get squashed?
I knew there was no need for an answer as we turned and headed for home.
bassasblog 
Tall Person is wise indeed. It is tough sometimes to ponder what the consequences of your action (or inaction) will be and decide accordingly.
Tall person siad to me today Rumpy that if everyone in the world saved the life of one thing today there would be 6 billion things alive tomorrow that wouldn’t otherwise be.
Wow Bassa, Tall Person is very nice to step in and help that snail along! We wish more people would be as thoughtful! Hope you have a great rest of the weekend!!
Thank you Deanna x
I understand your tall person so well – I do it myself, with snails, caterpillars, rain worms …
Me too, I love all animals, however small, so I get upset when I stand on one by accident and am usually extremely careful not to stand on anything….or to hesitate to move something, especially something that is hurt or dying (like a half squashed, still alive worm 😦 )
I hope worms count too – I move them into the gardens when they’re heading down a dry-looking path, then I roll my eyes and laugh at myself!
It is the smallest gestures of kindness that can mean the most to another creature. We stop and help turtles across the road, feed birds, feed the wild creatures during hard winters… it dont mean much to us or our time, but it means the world to them. Tall Person is very wise and very kind!
The collies applaud him and you! 🙂
I absolutely love this post. I agree with tall person whole-heartedly!
Great advice! Thanks for sharing Bassa. That snail is very lucky.
Bella and DiDi
I completely agree with Tall Person.
This post reminded me of the speech by Elie Wiesel “The Perils of Indifference,” in which he states, “…to be indifferent to […] suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. Indifference is, after all, more dangerous than anger or hatred.” We have an obligation to intervene when we can. Below is a link to the entire speech.
http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/wiesel.htm
Thank you so much for this!
Bassa, such a great lesson. I love how your tall person thinks. Very inspiring!
Thank you Monica. He is always saving stranded worms and snails and other creepy crawlies 🙂
Not sure I would have intervened for a snail…lol…but I understand the message.
A simple but profound philosphy. A good reminder and a perfect way to start the week.
Thank you Shary.
” Each life and its direction is determined by intervention.” 🙂
Bassa – your Tall person is very kind…even to a small snail. Good human!
Hey Bassa…Your tall person taught you a very wise life lesson today and I hope you apply it to the next snail you bump into on the road 🙂
Random acts of kindness (RAKs) are never wasted, even if the only “person” who notices is the person you helped. Good job, tall person!
Nancy
http://www.workingmomadventures.com