Thy Beasts and Singing Birds…
This morning
I was out for a run. I was miles from home. As I ran, I said prayers. I thought
happy thoughts that meandered in and out of my soul. As well a line from a song was playing in my
head, whilst I ran. Then at about midway through my run, as I was discovering
some new roads. An old prayer came to my lips. It is one I’ve said for animals
either injured, alone or in general. I had no real reason to know of what made
me say this prayer three times. But it occurred into my soul and out through my
lips. I whispered it as I ran. Too, a
picture of a deer in my backyard came to mind. At the time I thought nothing of
it. I wondered only for a second what made me think of the prayer and say it
seemingly at a whim.
Miles later,
I arrived home from my run. I had gotten unusually chilled on my cooldown walk.
So, I decided not to go into our backyard where our chin-up bar stood. Instead,
I entered our front door, and placed some of my gear down on the counter that I
had carried with me. I took off my hat. I went upstairs to check up on my
husband and one of our children who’d just gotten home from work.
When I
arrived upstairs and spoke with my husband, I looked out our bedroom window. Upon doing so, there I saw a huge doe,
alone. She appeared to be laying down.
Yet, something didn’t seem right. I mentioned it to my husband. I decided to see if I could see her move, yet
I didn’t want to disturb her. I feared she may be having an issue with her
pregnancy. So, I knew instinctively not
to enter the backyard and not to let anyone enter our yard either.
I headed
downstairs to film and picture her from our backdoor. I did everything with silence. She didn’t hear me nearly half an acre away.
Something seemed wrong. I expressed to
our youngest and to my husband. I saw other signs of distress. I then called
our local animal hospital. I got a
wildlife specialist on the phone. She
knew who I was. She has known our pets.
Her name was
Donna. She said, “You did the right thing. Don’t disturb her. Sounds like you’re pretty in touch with
animals. Film her. To monitor.”
I replied, “I
did film her from afar and took pictures. I try to be respectful. I do love
them so much.”
Donna
responded, “Sounds like you do.”
I remarked, “You
ready for something weird?” I paused. Then continued, “For some crazy reason I
started saying this old Lutheran prayer I learned when I was four years old. I say it now and then when I know or feel an
animal is in distress.”
Donna
commented, “It’s because you’re so intuitive with nature.”
I recalled, “So,
I start saying this prayer three times while I’m out running. I said it, while
I was like eight miles from our home. I couldn’t figure it. So, I just said it,
as if I knew an animal was in distress. Weird? Huh?” I continued, “Even funnier
yet. Before I went for my morning run, I looked out our kitchen window. And
there were two deer grazing in our backyard on the grass. One looked up looking
right at me. They were about a half-acre away from me through our kitchen
window, which was closed. It was like
she knew I was there.
Donna responded,
“They really trust you. It’s like you know each other. Just so you know, our
rehab guy is on his way in. He has to
pick up an injured red-hawk and some newborn squirrels and a baby bunny. Feel
free to call us on the situation if it doesn’t seem better.”
I replied, “Will
do. Thank you.
Just a minute
before, my husband notices a group deer in the woods fifteen feet from her, now
all resting. I informed Donna of that before we’d gotten off the phone
together. It was a good sign. We then said our good-byes.
What
happened next, was a miracle. Not a minute later after hanging up the phone,
the doe got up and walked into the woods. My thoughts were, ‘She could’ve been clipped
by a car. Yet, not fully injured and needed to rest to regain her composure.’
Donna had mentioned that scenario to me.
However, I marvel at the fact that I am so in touch with this herd of
deer that I could sense their distress in Spirit so many miles away. I feel honored
to know I am part of ‘Thy beasts and singing birds…’ world.---Jody-Lynn Reicher
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