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| Jean at her blind~photo taken by her husband |
Dear readers,
King David writes:
"Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing."
I take the scripture above to mean, God created the heavens and the earth by His hand. He gave all creatures what they need to live.
After nine years of grieving my son's death by suicide, the Lord has given me the best rest ever upon a mountain top. Several days of peaceful beauty that I'll write about in three parts.
My experience took place two weeks ago, where I entered the forest and up onto a mountain and sat behind a hunting blind. I waited where I knew elk came each evening. I scanned the peak of a treeline with my binoculars for an hour, taking a few breaks. When I glassed the area, again, I thought, "I don't remember that stump being there." Besides, it was too blond in color. I couldn't comprehend what I saw.
I moved my binos back and forth, when the "stump" moved. A bull elk turned, moving his backside to full broadside. He lifted his head. I whispered, "Oh, my, oh, my!" I counted twelve horns. Six on one side and six on the other, a six by six. That rack stood straight in the air between three to four feet high, I kid you not.
I fussed at myself for leaving my camera in the truck, and muttered, "Drat."
Suddenly, another bull appeared, his backside hidden by the first elk. A bit smaller, his horns were either five by five or five by six. I'm uncertain. By now, my heart pounded in my ears and my chest heaved. I grew dizzy and thought I might faint any second, for their beauty blew me sideways.
After watching them for ten minutes, they began to walk up and away from my direction. I tiptoed down the trail I sat on, and the elk disappeared. Desperate to bring them back, I used my own voice in a cow elk call. Thinking I had lost them for sure, I walked back toward my blind. As I came to an opening on the path, I looked at where they had been. The six by six bull faced me at stoic attention, showing off a brown coat on his thick chest.
I gasped, and then grinned. "You beautiful, big guy. God made you."
He moved to the side and, pulling his head to the left, sauntered out of view.
I descended the mountain that day satisfied. Even though I did not bring one down and home to the freezer, I witnessed the magnificence of Father God's creation. Best of all, with my own voice, I spoke big guy's language and our eyes met.
"You opened Your hand, and satisfy the desires every living thing."
Thank You, Lord, for giving me a much needed break from the world around me. Thank You for creating magnificent creatures as the Rocky Mountain elk. In Jesus' holy name, I am grateful. Amen.
Until next time . . . see what God has done.
