For many of us, value is lost in the
constantly changing world around us. Out of touch with ourselves and our
environments, we go about our daily lives concerned with what’s next and never
with what’s now. We thrive on the
practice of planning ahead and giving only partial attention to the present.
Future-oriented and often frightfully oblivious to problems other than our own,
our society is endlessly moving forward but rarely does it ever slow enough to appreciate
the lessons of today. By taking a moment to slow life’s pace and step outside,
we will find ourselves happily awakening to beauty and wisdom we would have
otherwise passed by.
One afternoon, I was
accompanying my brother and dad on a golfing outing—I don’t play but I tag
along for the chance to view and photograph wildlife.
At one of the
tee-off points I noticed a slight doe grazing across a hill. I had brought my
camera and started to make my way slowly to the doe. She eventually bolted back
into the woods nearby and I returned to my family. As they finished playing
that golf hole, I decided to check once more for the doe. I was very surprised
to see her peeking out from the hedgeline right at me. I gently sat down and
watched intently. To my great shock and delight, the doe deliberately stepped
over the hedge line and walked towards me, her gaze never once wandering from
my face. Gingerly, but without fear, she walked straight at me. I was shaking
from the sheer wonder of the event, and in awe of the creature coming towards
me on her own accord. I took some great photographs, in many of which she was
looking right into the lens.
Any move I made was noticed and
noted by the doe. Although the encounter had begun with a mutual curiosity, her
instincts were, at certain instances, stronger than her personal desires. I
made a point to stay as still as possible in a nonthreatening position.
Minutes
passed and she began to graze not ten feet from me, alert yet comfortable with
my presence. I sat, soaking in her grace and perfection. Her giant brown eyes
gave new meaning to the term ‘doe eyed’. The looks she gave me were not at all
those of a lesser beast; in fact they were those of one wiser than I in many
aspects. Her youthful face belied the life experience I knew she had. This was not a creature deserving of human
victimization; this was an intelligent being who possessed infinite abilities
and pieces of knowledge beyond our comprehension.
Ultimately the forest called to her
wild heart and sent her stepping away, but when she reached the treeline, she
stopped to look over her shoulder at me before dipping into the mottled light
of the woods.
This
doe taught me to be patient and let life come to you, for when you allow life
to take its course and decline to interfere, it will appreciate your respect
and grant you small put powerful windows into its mysterious ways. Since the encounter with the doe, I have
reminded myself countless times of her selfless gift of companionship. Her
lesson hangs in my consciousness, prompting me to take my time and savor the
small things in life. In this way I have learned respect as well as patience.
Life has much to teach us, if we only listen.
~Peace always,
Kristina~
1 comment:
Insightful and thought provoking. Wonderful images too!
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