The Snake in the Orchard

This afternoon I met a snake.

She was stretched out in a sunny patch of my orchard, soaking up the warmth of the day. She was beautiful—her scales shimmering in the light, completely at peace.

I stopped, bent down, and quietly said, "Hello. How are you doing today?"

She didn't have much to say, and that was okay. We simply shared the moment together before I continued on my way.

As I walked away, I found myself wondering why so many people are terrified of snakes.

For many, fear comes long before curiosity. We see a snake and immediately assume danger. We don't stop to ask who she is, what she's doing, or whether she even notices us. We simply decide the story before we've met the character.

The truth is, most snakes aren't looking for trouble. They are simply living their lives—finding warmth in the sun, hunting for food, avoiding danger, and, like every other wild creature, trying to make it home another day. They don't wake up wondering how to frighten people. Most would much rather be left in peace.

It made me wonder how often we do this with more than snakes.

How often do we look at another person and decide who they are before we've spoken a single word?

How often do we assume the worst because someone looks different, thinks differently, or simply feels unfamiliar?

Fear has a way of writing stories that curiosity never gets the chance to edit.

That little snake reminded me that every living being deserves the dignity of being met before being judged.

Sometimes all it takes is a quiet hello.

A moment of curiosity.

A willingness to wonder instead of assume.

I don't know if my new snake friend remembers our meeting.

But I'll remember hers.

She reminded me that the world becomes a kinder place every time we choose curiosity over fear, and connection over assumption.

What the Snake Taught Me

Not every unfamiliar thing is dangerous.

Sometimes the greatest barrier between us and another being isn't reality—it's the story we tell ourselves.

When we pause long enough to say hello instead of stepping back in fear, we create the possibility for understanding. Whether we're meeting a snake in an orchard, a stranger, or someone whose life looks very different from our own, curiosity opens a door that fear keeps closed.

Perhaps one of the simplest ways we can make the world more compassionate is to meet one another before we judge one another.

You May Be Wondering...

Does every animal have something to teach us?

I believe they do—not because they are trying to become our teachers, but because they are simply being themselves. When we slow down, pay attention, and meet them with an open heart instead of a preconceived story, we often discover that the lesson we needed was waiting for us all along.

May you see the world through the eyes of love, remembering that we are all part of one living, sacred whole.