Thursday, September 30, 2010

Seven



Took my last walk around the Sisters development. Tried to be mindful, and when I wasn't, I tried to Jack Kornfield my mind, as in bringing the mind gently back to awareness, not yelling at it for wandering off.

Caught movement off to the left and saw a few deer. 1,2,3,4. Four deer. One quickly crossed in front of me to the other side of the street and two more followed soon after. I decided to stop walking and just watch whatever was going on with the deer - see if they had a message for me.

The fourth one followed the first three and stopped mid-track. It turned and looked back in the direction from which it had come. It stared and stared at "nothing."

Finally, I saw that it was waiting for another deer. It was not so much waiting, as waiting for the other deer to see which way the others were headed. When eye contact was made, the mid-track deer leaped off with the first three.

Five deer, then. hmmmm....  I thought, five is a weird number...


Sure enough, a sixth and seventh deer came into view and stood with #4. They seemed to be taking a long time to decide if they wanted to join the first four, or head off on their own.

It was deer #4 that spoke to me, the one that knew which direction it wanted to go, but was overly concerned about everyone else...

13 comments:

Elizabeth said...

I love the way you live your life.

Laura said...

So beautifully written.

Knowing what we want, worrying about others and their needs and desires...I'm so pleased when all of these things align, often they do...and I am continuously practicing being ok when they don't. This is the art of being a mother, a wife, a friend, a human.

Deb Shucka said...

I love that the deer spoke to you as you were leaving. They've had much wisdom to offer you in Sisters, and I expect they'll find you again when you need them.

Anonymous said...

I love that deer #4 waited to ensure that #5 knew the direction the first group was headed, but did nothing to push #5 to follow. Just left #4 with the option to follow, or to choose a different path.

Mandi

Unknown said...

You are so very intentional with everything.

Kim said...

"It was deer #4 that spoke to me, the one that knew which direction it wanted to go, but was overly concerned about everyone else..."

Yup.

kario said...

They were coming for you, you know. I love that you waited for them.

Tanya @ TeenAutism said...

Seven deer! I love how you looked for a message, and I love the one you found.

Anonymous said...

That last line says all the things your friends already know about you.

Anonymous said...

Love.


MO'N

Me said...

Man...you're insightful!!

Amber said...

oh yes. I bet that was just the deer that was talking to you.

I love that you knew that...

:)

Anonymous said...

I love your pace.

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