Finding things out of context

 

 

Hiking at various elevations and conditions in the Wasatch foothills and mountains, I've been surprised to see snail shells such as the ones seen in the attached photos (from today's hike in Provo Canyon), usually dry and bleached by the sun. I always think, "What's that doing here?" I don't recall ever seeing a live snail in the mountains - only at home in my garden. So the shells always seem out of place - out of context.

But as I looked into it, I learned that there are several species of snails that live in those areas - probably more often seen in cooler and moister times of the year.

When you see something that seems "out of context" there are probably two possible explanations: 1) somebody put it there so it really is out of place; or 2) your understanding of the context is wrong.

If I had only seen one snail shell along the trail, I might argue for #1. Perhaps someone dropped the shell, or placed it as a joke. But tonight I saw a few dozen, so that seems pretty unlikely.

So the other option is to re-examine my understanding of the context. Perhaps if instead of hiking quickly through the area, I had spent more time carefully studying the environment, looking in the undergrowth, observing movement and changes at different times and seasons - I probably would have seen live snails and thus would not be surprised to see their dried and abandoned shells. But a little research quickly justifies the existence of the shells in that environment.

It's a good lesson: be observant in life for things that we don't expect, that seem out of place, or that don't seem to follow from our previous experience and understanding. Then figure out why they exist or why they happen! Being aware and inquisitive about our environment is one of the best ways to learn, and to appreciate the world in which we live.

I #GiveThanks for the lessons of unexpected events!