March 2015
Lenten Travels It is hard to write this, this little thing that has no significance but so much meaning. YesterdayI was driving to one of my six jobs, (yes, crazy isn't it?) and as I was traversing the winding road that leads to their long driveway I saw a groundhog in the road.
He was a little guy, a youngster. He looked so innocent. Stopped there on my side of the road, looking around. I stopped and patiently waited for him to cross. A car was approaching from the opposite direction and must have seen him and I naively assumed that he too would stop for the crossing and we could watch this adorable sight together. I cannot tell you if it was a man or woman headed toward me as my eyes were on the small creature. I still had faith in a safe crossing even though the car continued as the groundhog started to go across the road in the direction of the car’s path.
The car didn’t slow down though, it was meaningfully careless as it ran over the little creature. I stared in disbelief and was still hopeful that maybe he was just hurt. But then he started to convulse and then he stopped moving, a quick death as blood poured from his mouth.
I just stayed there watching, helpless in shock. Stymied by his senseless death, and then thought that maybe if I didn’t stop then this might not of happened and what might the karmic repercussions be for the other car, for that traveler? For all of us? I left the spot disheartened and somewhat depressed as I headed towards the wilderness program where I work. Coincidentally, I ended up giving my notice there later that day.
Lenten Travels It is hard to write this, this little thing that has no significance but so much meaning. YesterdayI was driving to one of my six jobs, (yes, crazy isn't it?) and as I was traversing the winding road that leads to their long driveway I saw a groundhog in the road.
He was a little guy, a youngster. He looked so innocent. Stopped there on my side of the road, looking around. I stopped and patiently waited for him to cross. A car was approaching from the opposite direction and must have seen him and I naively assumed that he too would stop for the crossing and we could watch this adorable sight together. I cannot tell you if it was a man or woman headed toward me as my eyes were on the small creature. I still had faith in a safe crossing even though the car continued as the groundhog started to go across the road in the direction of the car’s path.
The car didn’t slow down though, it was meaningfully careless as it ran over the little creature. I stared in disbelief and was still hopeful that maybe he was just hurt. But then he started to convulse and then he stopped moving, a quick death as blood poured from his mouth.
I just stayed there watching, helpless in shock. Stymied by his senseless death, and then thought that maybe if I didn’t stop then this might not of happened and what might the karmic repercussions be for the other car, for that traveler? For all of us? I left the spot disheartened and somewhat depressed as I headed towards the wilderness program where I work. Coincidentally, I ended up giving my notice there later that day.