Once upon a time there lived a snail who made her home under a very nice log. She had a happy life there, but knew in her heart she wanted to go on a journey. She told her friends about her desire and they said that a journey was a good idea and encouraged her to go. Privately, however, they thought it would be hard to tell when she had started since she moved so slowly. As good friends do, though, they supported her in the best way they could.
After a few days, a bird who had known her for a long time kindly asked her if she had started on her journey yet. The snail, who was only about a foot away from the spot she was a few days ago, said that she had indeed started on her travels. After that, all her friends would fly down or hop over to inquire about her progress and to ask if she needed supplies.
Several days after that, nearly any creature would say that she had not gone far, but the snail's heart measured things with a different yardstick and she happily continued on her way. At night she slipped under a comfortable leaf to sleep, and each new morning she stretched out her eyes in anticipation of the sights that awaited her. Once, she passed over a small patch of moss took the time to look at each stalk. And another time, she caressed each pebble she passed over and memorized its shape, color, and texture.
One night it started to rain gently and steadily, and everything the rain touched uncurled itself to bask in that serene wateriness. The snail was dawn farther along by the soft pattering of raindrops and the fragrances that were released by them. Every stem, sprout, and twig seemed to be bursting with something to tell her and she longed to hear that message.
Later that night, she came upon a puddle of water that the rain had formed. The puddle was smooth and shinning because the rain had stopped, and it seemed to her as if the message she was trying to hear must be gathered together in that brightness. She inched as close to the edge as she could and then stretched her eyes so that she could peer into the pool. And she saw that the shinning puddle held a refection.
There were stars in the pool that sparkled with clear perfection and she gazed at their beauty for a long time. Then she realized something else was reflected there too. She saw herself there among the stars and at that moment she heard the message. Although there were no words spoken, she knew that the universe was alive and that she was part of it. The stars above her, herself, the water, and everything, were one being.
After a long while, the snail turned around and as she contentedly crawled along she knew her journey was leading her home, which is where all good journeys begin and end.
The End.
