My Treasure

After a very long tiring day there isn't much I care to do once I get home, other than take care of the laundry or dishes, the needed things that do need to be done. Tonight was a bit different after I did what needed to be done, I finally sat and relaxed for a bit. Oscar sat on my lap while I waited for the computer to load up.

Those moments of time allowed for the perfect timing of saying the Angelus and then the Liturgy of Hours. It was nice and comfortable once it was all done and I was ready to finally get going to do the online stuff, but I felt a tug in my thoughts to take Oscar out and get the mail instead. So off we went, as we approached the house on the deck side, I heard a strange sound in the woods. I thought wow the neighbors are doing something different. I brought Oscar in the house, then I came back out and walked slowly toward the back to see what was making the noise.

I don't think I was quite prepared for what I saw as I rounded the bushes. Off to the side was a deer making the noise, I paused as we both looked at each other. I turned and went silently back toward the house around the bushes watching and listening to the deer blowing and grunting. It was odd how, when I brought Oscar around the house to the deck that the deer made itself known at that time as if to say look I'm here for you. For the brief time out there and looking and listening I knew in my heart that was a moment I was given an answer to a desire of my heart to see a deer.

I did go back into the house to have my parents hear the deer but no sound came. I went back outside and quietly went to see, but found the deer completely gone, nowhere in the area or even in the distant area could the deer be seen. Gone as if vanished, odd because when we do get to see them and they move around or speed up and go we usually see them in the vicinity but further away. Whether or not it was a God moment for me I know in my mind and heart that it was God's way of saying look I'm here for you when you need me all you have to do is seek me with the desire of your heart and I will be there.

That for me at least is an awesome God to give such love on a grand scale.

A Blessing

Yesterday afternoon I went and took care of a few things, so on my way home I detoured to go up one of the surrounding hilly areas of the countryside. I did get to do quite a bit of reflection and also throughout that drive I did lots of thinking. One in particular was about deer and how nice it would be to see some. A simple thought! I thought about some of the dreams or aspirations of when I was younger and how they have not come about. Some dreams are not meant to become a reality for a reason.

Anyway, last night we had scripture sharing. I thought it went quite well for this coming Sunday's reading. The topics that were discussed about service and justice were amazing. I truly enjoyed listening to what was being said. Last last few times I have gone to scripture sharing have been different. I don't know what it is unless it has to do with the upcoming change that is occuring in our Parish, that of another church merging with ours to bring together a closer family of faith. They seemed more open, open in the way of welcoming new people who may not be like them. After all we are called to love our neighbor no matter their circumstances. It can be hard when we are set on one way of following faith and to incorporate another family of faith with different values in the way they worship and do things. I think the Pope has it right in unity in how it all should be done when we are all part of the same "Catholic" family. The ritual and how it all should be done have no changes unless it's the people who change them out of their boredom of faith. At least, I hope the transition will come together smoothly for our Parishes.

So on my way home last night as I neared the bottom of the hill, there stood two deer at the foot of a driveway munching on what is on the ground. My headlights flashed on them and I was delighted to know that God answered such a simple thought. Because all the years I've been in this area, seeing them at night is a rarity, just like during the day.

***corrected incomplete sentence, but lost thought about what was to be there, sorry about that.***

Longings

Casey alerted us this morning with so much barking. Only to see momma deer trailed by her two young ones. She has already changed to her winter color. These moments I see them as grace filled ones. A time to know and pray in thankfulness for the gift of God's Love. Oh I'm sure many have the thought that it's just nature passing by and there is no logical reason that the hand of God would be providing this delightful picture of deer occasionally making their presence seen. Even I had a notion that a neighbor is feeding them knowing that he is a hunter, would provide the easy explanation. With that thought it would explain the many times we have seen them recently. But how easy it is to justify why we see things. Never once thinking that it's just possible to be in a spot to witness it in the first place.

We don't always look outside the windows in our busy day. We often are pre-occupied with worries of some sort. So many things that would keep us from seeing what God wants us to see and hear. If a neighbor is feeding them and they pass through, the odds of seeing them are just that, one in a million chances. When I think back to last year at this time, logically the sightings would have been plentiful if that were the case.

So by these thoughts of mine, I look at the Divine hand in it and see that he provides a unique answer and the delight of my heart. The Beloved has a way of touching us with His grace and for me part of the longing of my heart is to see deer as well as see Him. What a blessing to have both.

Animal Visitors

Earlier today we had a pair of young deer munching on the crab apples on the ground. The mother was not where we could see her today. But more than anything I love how God answers the simplests of requests. One thing I have found through most of all this, God provides. Just watching the animals around the area, they are taken care of. Not by humans, we just get in their way. But turn it around and we complain how the animals are invading our territory when they get displaced and come in search of food. Anyway, back to God provides, he does in all things, even in the things we don't seem to realize. For me on many numerous occasions I would simply love to see deer and God provides them. Not always but a big portion of the time. It's when I ask in a selfish way that I don't receive that gift of his love.

It's not hard to ask selfishly, considering it's how our hearts seek the answer with our own agenda rather than with the Will of God's in mind. I think that's why many people don't get their answers due to the nature of how it was asked in the first place. At least for me I see his answers in so many different ways. Maybe being in constant focus upon His love makes a difference.

The Young

My dad came downstairs to get me to let me know there was deer on the front lawn, nursing. I grabbed my camera and these three pictures were all I could get. Believe me we were very quiet, but as soon as I took this first shot from the kitchen window, the feeding quickly ended. And the oddest thing happened while we watched, they turned directly toward the house. Unfortunately while my camera was processing this picture, I couldn't take the next one with them staring. It was awesome to see God's creatures. These were the quickest pictures I've ever taken and they came out a bit blurry but they still look good.

I wonder if I took a picture of the trees at the grotto while it was in video mode if it would have captured the dancing leaves last week. Unfortunately it wasn't on while we were doing the Rosary, but there were three witnesses to what was going on and they saw it. Now that would have been quite something wonderful to have captured on film. I love these moments when God's presence is known. Even when the deer show up.

Love Ever Anew

The first picture is clear, but the second one is a running blur. She took off when I had just took the screen off the window. It was something quite wonderful to see as I passed by the room to see those majectic creatures after taking a shower this morning. I usually glance out the washroom window and this morning I was graced with not just one but two deer.

So I went downstairs to get my camera before they went into the woods. I was lucky to get what I did as this one had stood there staring at me through the window. I was quiet too, but I think it was the white towel on my head that caused her to look. At least she wasn't nibbling on the tomato plants. But she did manage to nibble on the Japanese Maple that was given to my parents from a sister-in-law, many years ago. Now we know why it's not growing too fast. They are pruning it.

And to think I thought about wanting to see the deer again. I am ever anew at awe when God provides the simplest longing of the heart. I love deer and I don't know why that is. It started long ago one day and for the life of me, seeing them ever since always brought the truth of an answer. Well anyway, that is my longing. Those rare sightings always tell me of His undying love.

Those Beautiful Deer

It was one of those I didn't look to see mornings yesterday. I prepared and published what I thought was the other blog, so when I looked it wasn't there, I did the usual check the edit page and it wasn't there either. So when I went to go and do some writing on this one that's when I found where my reflection went. I left it here and put it on the other blog.

But then when I went upstairs to get breakfast, as I looked outside I saw movement of the glorious white tail that announced the deer. I think my heart did flip flops as I had recently asked our Lord if I could see some deer as it has been quite sometime since the last request. And to think that all through winter when the surrounding woods are bare, not a single sighting, but a few tracks. Now when all is turning green and even harder to see through the trees, there was at least five of those beautiful deer.

It's those moments when the beauty of God shines through. So many times interiorly I would ask for a specific thing and not long after I would get receive what I interiorly asked. I don't doubt his love or my love for Him, all through my life I received what I generally asked for from Him. It was often paying attention to and seeing it unfold as time would pass by. I believe it was a few weeks ago and the other day that I interiorly sought the desire to see deer again.

You know how they say be careful of what you wish for, you might get it, it's not the wish it's the desire of what it is we ask. Is it something we honestly desire for our own good or for selfish reasons. When I usually ask to see deer it's because of the closeness I associate with God in those creatures, that's why I believe I am allowed that special answer, because it has to do with Him.

Deer and Fawn

I looked up again today and didn't see the movement on the ceiling, thankfully. On my way home it was nice to see a deer and a fawn cross the street. She turned back onto the street and stood facing my car as I was stopped for a few seconds. This is the first sighting of the young since their birth. My mom saw one this morning when she was walking the dog. So today was a day for sighting wildlife. But tonight was an evening of scents. After I took the clothes off the line outside, I went toward the garden but as I was walking a breeze wafted by with the most delightful scent. All I could do at the moment was stand there and sniff the air, lol it reminded me when I saw my dog long ago doing the same thing when he smelled something in the air. I couldn't help but be reminded of that as I was doing the sniff, sniff thing myself. Oh well, there are somethings that do make for funny moments and that was it. Those are precious moments when the air is alive with floral scents and no flower is near that smells so good as that. And for us the only flower happens to be a tiger lily and believe me I went by and sniffed it and there is no scent there. Not much else today except a lot of reflection.