Animal Guidance

Photo borrowed from Lucycat at flickr.com.

I am a Christian woman, raised in a household of faith, and through out my life have sought the Lord to be an integrated part of who I am. Even as a little girl, after a move from Rhode Island to New Hampshire, from my mother's faith- filled home to my father's, let's just say not faith filled one, I sought God in my life. I recall walking to various churches on Sunday mornings to get in sync, if you will. I have learned along the way, though, that there are many types of faith. And to me, if we are seeking a connection with the Lord, then we can find our way. Hmm, where was I going with this? Oh, yah, I know, into the sense of where I come from.

You all know God uses animals through out the Bible to make points or to help those within the stories to have a better focus: sheep, swine, ravens, doves, fish, and others appear to help us have a better understanding of what is expected. For my life, you may have guessed, it is deer- does to be exact.

Over ten years ago, Darrell, Brian, and Bud (my Father-in-law), were in a car accident. It happened just hours before I was to go on an overnight retreat. Scary, huh? Well, Darrell insisted it was okay for me to go, and I debated within myself. How supportive would that be? But, he convinced me that things were okay, and I headed out. By the time I got to the retreat, it was getting to be dusk. I parked my car and put my things in the cabin. Then, I made the decision to hoof tot he dining room, at least a 1/2 mile down the road. Wouldn't you know, in my haste and preoccupation, I tripped over a rock, and fell. I cut my knees and hands, and plopped on my butt and cried. I began to feel even more like I was not supposed to be there. I asked for a sign that this was the right place for me to be. As I stood up, out of the woods, not ten feet from where I stood, a doe appeared. We gazed at each other, and calm came over me. She went off, and I went to dinner. By the end of that weekend, I discovered that I was needed at the retreat. There were two women there from my church I had been avoiding, and through the series of events, we left with a bond that has not yet been broken.

Now, if that seems a bit unusual to you, it did to me as well. So, I did what the modern day woman does, and looked up animal totems online. I found out that deer symbolize love, gentleness, kindness, gracefulness and sensitivity. Deer carries the message of purity of purpose, and of walking in the light. Yah, right, I thought, okay. But, since that weekend, I have had several instances when I was struggling with something or someone in my life.
The first day of a job that was fulltime after Ruth was born. A whole herd of deer walked across the road in front of me. When I struggled daily in a classroom with a co-worker that didn't do her job and yet was praised, while I did mine and was warned about my attitude, we could count the deer along the road. Sometimes up to 20.

The most recent was the day Darrell got laid off. I had left the grocery store and worry kicked in. Did we do the right thing? How will we make ends meet? What will happen next? Wouldn't you know, a spring fawn jumped right out into the road? I stopped to make sure that there were no other following, when it jumped back across the road. To my left, eating at a bird feeder was its mother, and sibling. A familiar sense of calm came over me, and I realized that things will be okay. You all saw my post that day, and it is true.

Okay, so I have probably bored you, or made you think I am way out there. But, if I can find an outward symbol of how God wants me to live my life, then I think all is well.