Deer Kissing

Last night around 7 I was grilling some Sockeye salmon. Darkness had fallen. Along the street, I caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye. I looked intently until I caught the shadows of two deer darting across the neighbor’s lawn. I said, “Hi, guys.” With perked ears they stopped dead in their tracks and looked at me. From inside our fifth wheel, Joan said, “Who are you talking to?” I said, “The deer.”   Even though Spike, our nine pound Min Pin terror had to come to the door and bark at my friends, they kept looking at me.

I looked at them and they looked at me. I knew I was in communion with these two deer. I talked to them, “How are you doing tonight?” Then, honoring the divine in them, I bowed slightly and said, “Namaste.” We were at peace. We became one. After about five minutes they stopped looking and began to graze gently. Another gift from the Creator.

Earlier in the week, I received another gift. Walking out of the fifth wheel on a windy day, I looked up as a bald eagle, gracefully riding the wind, soared right over my head. Beauty in flight!

I am reading Brother David Steindle-Rast’s new book, Deeper than Words: Living the Apostles Creed.  Bringing the Creed to life Brother David, a Benedictine monk, teaches that life is about belonging and that the created world is an extension of ourselves.

All is one. Time and time again deer and bald eagles remind me that I am part of a larger Whole as together we breathe the very life of God.