Deer Speak

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you. In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:7, 10 (NIV)

Finding a deer bed in the mountains is fascinating to me. These critters don’t just flop down whenever they feel a nap coming on. The locations they select are very strategic for their survival, even down to the detail of which direction they face as they settle down.

When I discover a deer bed, I like to take some time to study the area. I try to cipher why the deer selected this particular place to lie down. A mistake in choosing a sleeping spot could cost the deer his/her life.

Air current is one vital aspect for a deer to deal with when it dozes off. Usually air moves up a mountainside during the day, and down at night. But this can change depending on the weather for that particular day, the type of terrain immediately surrounding the area, and even the local vegetation, to name a few variables. A deer needs to be able to sense a predator sneaking up long before it arrives, and air currents are one primary means to carry this warning.

I’ve found deer beds on high spots in swampy areas. No doubt the deer were using the surrounding water to alert them to the sound of a predator approaching. (Why I sometimes find myself in a swamp during my hikes is probably the subject for another post. And quite likely the reason our yellow labs enjoyed hiking with me a bit more than my wife does!).

Seeing a deer on a bed is always an extra bonus. The large doe pictured above turned toward me as I took her photo. She was chewing, and it wasn’t until I looked at the picture on my computer that I realized she had her mouth open and appeared to be speaking.

As soon as I saw the picture, the above Scripture came to mind.

What an amazing God, to hold the life of everything, along with our breath, in His hand.

Who can fathom it?

To Learn how you can have your own relationship with the One Who holds your next breath in His hand, please see Got God?

Hope you have a great day.