In this neck of the woods this season of the year bring new and exciting challenges that involve more than just weather. Tis the season of the romance, deer romance I mean. Something isn’t it?… that these graceful, timid and beautiful creatures have simply absolutely no regard for traffic patterns! Oh it’s cute when they wander into a convenient store or frolic in the neighbor’s pool.
The YouTube videos abound… but let one of those darling creatures God created on the 6th day wasn’t it?… let Bambi’s dad stroll into the eastbound lane of whatever interstate you are tooling down at 70 miles an hour and cute is not the word that immediately pops into your head! Let me suggest to you it’s something like WOW was that close!… accompanied by a heart rate spike and blood pressure highs!
I recently came across an actual letter to the editor titled “Move the deer crossing where there is less traffic” and I quote, “A lot of deer’s get hit by cars Waist of Crowne Point on U. S. 231. There are too many cars too have the deer crossing here. The deer crossing sign needs to be moved to a road with less traffic.” Signed ____________ Crown Point.
I tell ya you just can’t make this stuff up! Life comes at you fast and how we handle the challenge or interruption is extremely important.
While we find ourselves on the topic of close encounters allow me to introduce you to an Old Testament King who gives to us some very good advice. His name is Jehoshaphat and he was the King of Judah. When Jehoshaphat was surrounded by armies his first response, as ours should be is to go to God in prayer…”And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord…” 2 Chron. 20:3. When King Hezekiah received a fearful death sentence to whom did he run to?
The Lord of course. Immediately after the Prophet Isaiah delivers the message of the kings impending death Hezekiah responds… “Then he turned his face unto the wall and prayed unto the Lord.” One last example for our consideration would have to be the future king David as he confidently strode across the valley of Elah toward the waiting Goliath. He had rehearsed in front of King Saul all that the Lord had helped him to do as he cared for his father’s sheep, how
The Lord had strengthened and protected him time and time again. And that day as he walked right into the face of his enemy he could be heard saying “thou comest to me with a sword and a spear, and with a shield, but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel who thou hast defiled”….1 Sam. 17:45. And wouldn’t you know it, the one who David served delivered him that very day. I have always been a fan of the Psalmist words in Psalm 46, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” From my own personal experience on the roadway of life I can testify to the truth of that passage!
Two veterans of D-Day were being interviewed for a program commemorating the 61st anniversary of the Allied assault to defeat Nazi Germany and restore freedom to Europe. One of the men, a Marine, had fought the battle on the ground on Omaha Beach. The other fought in the air, high above the seashore. The first man described the scene on sands of Omaha Beach as it was depicted in the movie “Saving Private Ryan.” He saw nothing but his compatriots dropping all around him. To him, it looked hopeless. In despair, he told himself, “We’re going to lose. I can’t believe it. We’re going to lose.” He told the interviewer, “That’s how I felt in the heat of the battle that day.” But the other man, the pilot, saw something completely different. He told the interviewer that he could see everything that was going on, including the number of troops on the ground and where they were going. He told himself: “I got so excited, because I could see the overall battle. I remember saying out loud, ‘we’re going to win! We’re gonna win!”
Two men engaged in the same battle – with the same cause – but with vastly differing perspectives on the battle and the eventual outcome. You may feel that we are on the sands of battle facing the heavy artillery of powers who oppose you, feeling hopeless and defeat is inevitable. But there’s a different perspective to consider. It’s the perspective of our Heavenly Pilot, God himself. He sees the battle from a heavenly perspective and He knows who’s going to win. When we have His perspective, everything looks completely different. I am thankful we can know before we get into a mess where we will turn for help, because believe you me… Deer…. uh, I mean things can happen fast. And question is not what can happen it’s how will you handle it?
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Throckmorton is the pastor of Crossroads Church in Circleville
