(Watch the link before continuing)

The tortoise in this video inspired me. Another tortoise, one he may or may not have been acquainted with was in distress. Seeing that another tortoise was flipped over, the tortoise helped flip the other over. Is it possible that the tortoise would have regained its orientation without the other’s help? Possibly. Could another tortoise, animal, or even human come along and helped instead? Sure. But this tortoise saw a need he could meet, and took action.

This tortoise probably was doing something else. It is doubtful he left his burrow, or whatever, in search of someone to help. He may have even been “busy with other things”–whatever that means for tortoises–yet he stopped and did what he could.

If a tortoise can, why don’t we?

I recently went to the church to grab a flyer that needed 350 copies for our fall festival coming up the 17th. Upon arriving at the church, I had to park in the street because two cars were blocking the drive way–one with a flat. As I got out of the car, they apologized for blocking the parking lot when they realized I was heading into the church. I dismissed it as no big deal, went inside, and got the flyer. On my way out I felt the Spirit saying, “see if you can help”.

Why? I have no extra cash, I’m busy, and they already had help. Nonetheless, I offered my assistance. I even offered to give them my spare (which just barely didn’t fit). I then headed off to get the flyers copied. When I returned, two of the people were still there, waiting for the third person to return with a tire. After I took the flyers inside, I offered them both water while they waited.

Not to bring attention to myself, because normally (like most) I would justify out of the circumstance, but this time, I “tortoise-ed”. Why can’t we all be like that more? To my Christian audience, the Scriptures command we be “tortoises” without excuses.  To my non-Christian audience, most of us will never be the next Gandhi or M.L.K. Jr., but we can all be tortoises. And as the great Gandalf the Grey said,

Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay… small acts of kindness and love.