This morning I hooked up the manure spreader to the Gator to take it to the pasture. Chance, the gentlest Pit Bull alive, and Pedro, my Jackahuahua, jumped aboard, as they always do. Even Max, the old one-eyed Rottweiler, will join us if he is up for an adventure. Buttercup would rather follow behind to eat bits of manure as the spreader releases. And if I drive too fast, which I’m prone to do, I end up with manure in my hair, but happy. The whole scene is a hoot.
So headed up the pasture, and Chance and Pedro lept from the Gator to race up the hill. This is their game. I love watching them run hard; after all, a tired puppy is a good puppy, so Caesar Milan says, and I believe him.
They raced into a small grove of trees where Pedro began barking as ferociously as a 16-pound, half-Chihuahua can. He approached something, jumped back, approached, jumped back. I quickly drove over yelling, “No, Pedro!” I was afraid it could be a snake or a critter that Pedro might hurt. Pedro is as stubborn as a burrowed tick, so he kept right at it.
I jumped from the Gator to find that he had discovered a huge turtle—almost a foot long–gorgeous, ancient, protected, taking all the time and beyond.
I sat in front of him watching, admiring. He was shy but willing to engage a bit. He reminded me that it is good to sit awhile. There is no rush. I can take in this moment. Even Pedro sat calmly beneath the tree watching the pasture as I communed with the turtle.
The turtle reminded me to be fully present in this moment. No need to jump ahead to a future scenario or worry about something past.
This is the only moment I have and it is full of life.
Listen to today’s entry now on Sacred Witness Podcast and Subscribe to Sacred Witness Podcast through iTunes.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you, Carla, for more affirmation… and a wonderful visual of the morning’s adventure. Gives a new meaning to the phrase “S__t happens.”
Lily says, “I love you, turtle. Is the turtle happy? What do turtles say?”
Sweet. Love the images.
{ 1 trackback }