November 16, 2007
Hide & Seek – God-style
It was very early on a Saturday morning and I reluctantly got out of bed. I had to deliver newspapers by 8am. It wasn’t something I loved to do, but it was extra “fun” money and it forced me to get out and get some fresh air and exercise. I hate getting up early on a Saturday! However, once I’m out and about, doing my little paper route, it’s somewhat refreshing. This Saturday, in particular, was one I’ll remember for a long time. No, it wasn’t the day that I saved a life or someone saved mine. It wasn’t the day I won the lottery. And it definitely wasn’t the day, my husband said “Go back to sleep, honey – I’ll do the papers for you.”
The one thing I love about the area where I delivered the newspaper was being able to encounter nature…. the mourning doves I would surprise, yelling at me with their unique warble; the bunny rabbits that hid under the bushes watching and waiting for me to pass. I loved it when I could get a glimpse of a hummingbird, because that was rare. Once in awhile I’d see a deer or two in the distance, but this Saturday was different. I was doing my thing and had gotten to the third building on my route. I pulled my car into the driveway and got out, papers in hand, only to see a doe and 2 fawns standing at the side of the building. They were close enough to see the frozen hesitance in their eyes. I quietly and respectfully placed the paper on the customer’s porch and slowly walked to the next porch. By the time I got back to my car they were gone. Now this is not that unusual on a fall morning. I would see a deer or two, then they would be gone and that would be it. I continued with a couple more buildings, looking but not seeing those beautiful deer. I drove up a hill to the next set of condos, when there they were again. It’s like they were waiting for me, to say “surprise – we’re gracing you with our presence again”. Still they kept their distance, I respected them, and continued on my way. Now I was beginning to look for them around each corner, always feeling a bit let down when I didn’t see them. The experience definitely fueled me for continuing the route and enjoying this little game of hide-and-seek.
About 13 buildings left to go. I kept hoping to see those deer again. It was so beautiful how the mother stood in front of her fawns, to protect them from this human throwing these strange things at the buildings. As I got to each corner and didn’t see my new playmates, I became discouraged. I kept hoping to run into them again, and was let down. By now I had given up. I drove to the last building and when I walked to the unit on the corner, there they were, closer than ever. I was actually the one scared this time. The mother made a snorting sound, but they just stared at me. I was even afraid to deliver the paper so I went back to my car and moved it forward on the road so they would see it and maybe flee. But they didn’t. I walked back to the sidewalk and they were still there staring at me. It was cool, but a bit uncomfortable. I slowly walked toward the porch and said “I’m not going to hurt you, I’m just trying to deliver this last paper.” Finally I got too close for comfort and they took off into the woods, the mother nudging her fawns off into the distance.
Getting back in my care I thought “what a cool morning.” I was so glad I got to deliver the papers that day. I started to think about how I looked so longingly around every corner, just to get one more glimpse of those deer. If only I sought after God like that every day… looking around every corner, hoping to encounter Him, even if only for a moment. I imagined the fear I would have when facing Him. But most of all I felt sad that I longed so much for the encounter with the deer and not with my maker.
In a way that only God knew would touch me, He used this experience in my life to gently point out what He and I had both been missing.
