Stumbling across a snapping turtle the other day encouraged a long-lost childhood memory to resurface. It was funny how stopping to observe an old wizened creature took me right back to our childhood home, a small hobby farm on the outskirts of town.
Every spring an ancient leathery snapping turtle would make its way across the road from the river to our ravine. It was during one of these epic annual treks that one of many natural lessons was demonstrated. My father took a small fallen branch and held it close to the turtle’s mouth … we were surprised at how aggressive and quickly that turtle snapped at the branch.
Watching our reactions, my father pointed out that this is what this type of turtle could do and if we got too close we would always get bitten. We learned that day to keep clear of snapping turtles because they were built to bite. We also learned to be cautious with our curiosity.
Now reflecting as an adult, I have to admit that this simple snapping turtle story has often been forgotten. I have ended up being snapped at a few too many times. I can not really say that I did not know what to do … but it is obvious that I did not do what I know. Interesting how some of us continue to do the same thing over and over, but expect a different result.
So it would seem the basic reminder here is … if you keep getting too close to a snapping turtle, you will continue to get injured … and should you want a different result in life, perhaps it is time to take some different actions.
Wise, old and leathery … I wonder what else the snapping turtle could teach us?