Ponderations

Posted 5/15/13

The old tortoise was basking on a flat rock and reflecting on his long life and recalling happy days, when a pesky squirrel came up and began teasing. Nothing would make the squirrel go away. Finally, the squirrel challenged him to a race.

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Ponderations

Posted

The old tortoise was basking on a flat rock and reflecting on his long life and recalling happy days, when a pesky squirrel came up and began teasing. Nothing would make the squirrel go away. Finally, the squirrel challenged him to a race. "See that old barn way down yonder?" the squirrel said, "I bet I can beat you to it!" After hearing the challenge several times from the persistent little animal, the tortoise finally relented and agreed to a race.

Jumping into the air the squirrel started running fast as he could. The old tortoise also made his move toward the distant barn. Inch by inch, steadily moving forward the domed shaped shell made progress, little by little repeating over and over, "The main thinghellip;the main thing."

After running for fifteen seconds the squirrel saw a tree off to the side. He made a rapid turn and climbed to the top of the tree, making three rounds before coming down. He almost got back on course when he spotted another squirrel and ran after it, running dizzying circles in the path.

The old tortoise was moving steadily forward at a speed which would be difficult to notice by any observer. "The main thinghellip;the main thing," repeated the tortoise, his neck stretched forward in determination.

The squirrel returned to the path and rushed up to the tortoise saying, "Hey, old tortoise! What's taking so long?" And he rushed off knowing he could beat the shelled creature anytime he wanted. But he came upon an oak tree filled with nuts. "I have plenty of time," He thought, and he started gathering a cheek full of acorns and fell asleep. When he awakened he could hear in the distance the tortoise saying, "The main thinghellip;the main thing."

He was shocked to see he had lost the race. He ran up to the tortoise and asked how he had arrived first, to which the old tortoise replied, "I just kept reminding myself that the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.

"Huh?" Said the squirrel, "I don't get it."

"Yeah. I didn't think you would," replied the tortoise.