First Baptist Church of Herndon

Encounter

Linda Soller | Nov 15, 2021

Routinely we encounter nature at my house. The woods around my home are full of life. We do not lack for squirrels, chipmunks, birds, foxes, raccoons, skunks, and yes, deer. We think nothing of seeing a herd of deer grazing at a leisurely pace in our yard in the middle of the day. They don’t feel the need to hide or escape. Well, when I chase them clapping my hands together and shouting they tend to disperse. Actually there may be a few neighbors who disperse as well when they observe me. 

On November 3^rd, I had been to the grocery store, the landfill to recycle, and the gas station. Driving home at the speed limit at 10:15 a.m. a large deer decided to hurl himself into the side of my car. Based on where he hit me, it is clear I was there first! I was not hurt, and no other cars were involved. The white truck behind me didn’t even stop to see if I was okay.  The deer ran off and made it across the road and out of my sight. That flash of an accident is very clear in my mind. After I stopped shaking, and the soreness in my tensed up shoulders went away, I began to think. That was quite an encounter with nature. Maybe not a desirable encounter, but certainly a memorable one.  I found myself thinking of the deer. What drove him to dive into traffic? Was he just sore like me or suffering somewhere out of sight? These thoughts interrupted my pity party. Sure, I now had to get my car repaired and it was upsetting, but I came out on the other side able to carry on. Could the deer do the same?

Lessons learned: 1.) Be extra careful when driving in our neighborhood even in the daytime. 2.) Following the speed limit is a good thing. 3.) You never really want to learn why you pay for car insurance. 4.) Nature is all around us even if we don’t notice it. God created such an amazing world, which we share. I hope your encounters are always pleasant.

Be the difference in the world! :o)