Worms on a Sidewalk

As I veer to turn the corner on my morning walk today, I see a very long dark brown worm perpendicular to the edge of the sidewalk. I almost step on this slinking body about to return to its home of vegetation. I stay and wait until the full length of the moving earth rope is off the pavement and sheltered by dense green grass.  Once it is halfway along, the worm pauses to explore some clover clusters. I say, “Come on buddy, you need to get out of the way of danger.” Finally, its tail slides from the pavement into a forest of greenery. I feel accomplished that the worm will not be stepped on by a passing jogger or dog-walker.

I continue my walk two more steps, and discover another worm, only this time, it is in the middle of the sidewalk and traveling the other direction. Half of its dark brown body is twisting, rolling, and reaching. The other half seems stuck to the pavement, moving very little. The slightly flattened half has a greyish hue and appears to have been stepped on. I know it can survive after losing its tail but needs to get to safety first.  I gingerly pick up the brown and grey squishiness while both of its ends quickly wrap around my fingers. I place the rolled up body in the grass and hope it a long and fruitful life.

Two worms, two feet apart, in two very different scenarios. One is without a care in the world and the other is struggling to survive. Only moments before, each could have been in the other’s place. I think about how I have been both worms at various times. That is life. I never realize how lucky I am to make the journey to green grass, or how unlucky when I get stepped on. Often, the person who owns the crushing foot is unaware of the pain they’ve caused. And every now and then, someone else helps me to safety where I can sort myself out and heal.