Last night I nearly hit a few deer out in the country, as they crossed the pitch black road. They weren't particularly startled by my car and I observed them for a few moments as they stood by the roadside. I couldn't help but think: What beautiful creatures! I know a lot of people get upset when deer eat their gardens and some are worried about the overpopulation of deer in our area. They certainly are a popular target for hunting. But, once again, I was struck with how graceful and quick they are. A little internet exploration turned up some interesting facts about deer: they only eat vegetation (four stomachs like a cow)... the gestation period for the fawn is about the same as for a human baby at 10 months...however, the newborn fawn will be on his feet within 20 minutes of being born!...adult deer can run 30 miles per hour and jump over trees eight feet high! Maybe the most interesting thing about deer are the antlers that male deer have. I didn't know that they actually grow a fresh set of antlers each year, and then lose them after mating season. They don't use them to attack enemies. They use them to challenge other male deer to "jousts" to win the right to mate with particular females, or to claim territories as their own. It occurred to me that the older deer have a big advantage because each year they add more "points" to their rack of antlers, giving them a competitive advantage. There is a point, however, when the antlers grow no larger with age, and so eventually the younger suitors may catch up and make the competition more even. During the years when they lose, they are probably gaining valuable experience in strategy and technique and their motivation builds with each year as they long to find a mating partner.
There is a process of growth for Christians too. There may be frustrations with our own failures to "stick to it" when it comes to having a close walk with the Lord. There may be disappointments in work, parenting, or marriage. Sometimes I think one of the most important qualities we need is persistence. We need time to experience the trials and disappointments sometimes, while remaining fixed in our trust in the Lord. Like the growing deer, we need time to learn from those difficult and disappointing outcomes, until we have grown to the point where we can take on those challenges successfully.
Psalm 18:33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.
blessings,
Rob Smith
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