Last week I was running on the trail just south of Barrie. My eye noticed movement before my brain could decipher what it was. Something was running towards me at great speed. I could feel myself tense up. It took a moment to realize that there was no threat. At least I don’t think of a deer as threatening. As it drew closer to me, it slowed down and then stopped. Its white tail was pointing straight up, and its nose was quivering as it sniffed for danger. I expected it to turn around and retreat into the trees, but it didn’t. Perhaps it saw me not as a threat but as a companion on the journey. It stayed to watch me run by, its eyes never leaving mine.
It’s not really that uncommon to see deer in Barrie, but there is still something exhilarating about seeing one up close. Unexpected interactions with nature rarely disappoint. In our tradition, seeing an animal in the wild could be chalked up to a lucky break, but in some traditions, animals that cross your path do so for a reason. They momentarily enter your life to bring you a message or to nudge you back on track. As soon as I got back to the car, I googled, “what does it mean when you see a deer?” Google told me this, “seeing a deer typically symbolizes gentleness, intuition, and spiritual renewal. Encountering a deer is viewed as a gentle reminder to trust your instincts, approach life with a compassionate heart, and navigate challenges with quiet grace rather than forceful reactions.”
I don’t know where Google gets its sources; it has an alchemy all of its own, but I appreciated the reminder to listen to what my gut is telling me, and to approach life with a gentle and compassionate spirit. I also couldn’t help but wonder if the deer went back to its home and googled, “what does it mean when you see a human?”
The philosopher Confucius once said, “signs and symbols rule the world, not words nor laws.” I’m not sure what he meant by that, but it does seem that there is something within many, if not all of us, that has a need for a sign now and again. Don’t we all like to think that if we pay attention, the universe speaks to us? A cardinal on our front lawn after a death can bring comfort in knowing that our loved one is safe. Finding a “lucky penny” gives us a little shot of hope that our fortunes are turning. Even watching the sun peek through a cloud on a dark day, just as we look up, can elevate our mood.
Jesus put it this way, “you can predict the weather by the colour of the skies and patterns of the clouds, yet you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” I’ve always interpreted those words to mean, “pay attention!! There are signs everywhere if you are open to them.”
This past weekend, we took our youth group to Collingwood for the weekend. When I arrived at the Airbnb, a rabbit hopped across the front porch of the home and disappeared into the trees. So, I googled, “what does it mean when a rabbit crosses your path?” Google told me that a rabbit is a symbol of “joyful and youthful energy.” Sure enough, the house was soon filled with the happy sounds of 13 teenagers fired up for a weekend away from home.
Everywhere a sign.
