This morning the happy sound of squirrels scampering on the roof brought a smile. Those rascals like to scale the tall tree next to the sun-room, and make a leap onto the roof in a friendly game of chase. A reminder from nature to balance both work and play.
More activity was in the works later in the day. Around 11:30, Elliot and I had parked our lawn chairs on the driveway to soak up some sunshine. Suddenly there was a stirring in the air. A rush of action. I heard the steady rhythm of pounding hooves in the pasture next-door!
A young buck appeared on the run, sprinting across the pasture, heading our way! I saw his big brown eyes look at me as he thundered toward the fence to make a break for it.
"Lookout, a deer is coming!" I warned Elliot as we froze in our seats watching him charge toward the fence.
What happened next took my breath away.
To our amazement, the powerful young buck had built up enough dynamic momentum to leap the fence gracefully in a single bound.
Without breaking stride, his hooves safely hit the paved driveway as we watched him navigate 25-feet from us. A detour through the palm trees startled a large sand hill crane feeding. With ruffled feathers, it squawked, avoiding a collision. It spread its wings and flew over the fence. The deer kept its pace through the front yard, then circled the neighbor's house, and disappeared around the corner, heading towards the woods, having cleared the obstacle course.
That sudden BURST of unexpected activity put a spin on me. A rush of healing tears caught me off-guard. I will never forget that moving display of poetry in motion, grace and agility and boundless freedom.
I remembered deer is a symbol of being lured on a new adventure, but this seemed accelerated.
Wanting to know more, later I looked up the symbolism of the deer. Deer is also a time to be gentle
with yourself and others. A new innocence and freshness is about to be
awakened or born. Ask yourself these important questions:
Are you trying to force things?
Are others?
Are you being too critical and uncaring of yourself?
When deer appears, there is an opportunity to express gentle love that
will open new doors of adventure to you. Follow the lure to new
studies. Move gently into new areas. Practical pursuits bring
surprising rewards.
The timing was good as I'd been dealing with a bout of low self-esteem. My ego likes to take a poke at me when I'm doing something kind and helpful.
What messages are coming to you today? How is God communing with you? Take the deer's message to heart, and be more gentle and loving with yourself. God loves you. All is well.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
(photo:web)