Turtle Tracks

Yesterday I saved a turtle’s life…today I saw a turtle I was unable to help.

While riding home from a visit to my grandmother’s house, mom and I noticed a turtle trying to cross the highway. Mom stopped the car and I got out, picked up the turtle took him to the side of the road and placed him on the other side of a metal fence in a grassy area. For the time being he would be safe. He had options…walk into the grassy area or continue the length of the fence and again attempt to cross the highway. We don’t know which path this turtle chose, but we did what we could in the moment to help him find safety.

This morning, while on a jog through the neighborhood, I saw a turtle who had already met a terrible fate. His shell was cracked and his soft body lay broken in the street. The sun was growing more intense and the smell of his lifeless body was beginning to fill the street. Flies swarmed around and a vulture sat feasting on his carcass (I know, not a pretty image). I noticed a second vulture on a grassy lot nearby, perhaps waiting for his meal time or maybe he had already had his fill. As I passed by, I thought about the emptiness of the street. It’s not a very busy street or neighborhood and had I seen this turtle in time, I could have picked him up, turned him around and placed him in a safe place. It was too late.

It took more effort (and was perhaps more dangerous) to stop the car and help the turtle on the highway than it would have taken to help this turtle in the neighborhood, but the turtle in the highway crossed my path in time to receive help. It just caused me to think that when we are given opportunities to pick someone up, turn them around and set them on a better path, to encourage them, to bless them, we should take advantage of those opportunities. Sure, it may take a little more effort or time, but it might just save a life. We are not promised a second chance, so we should make the most of every opportunity.