Articles/Bulletins
Two Does
R E F L E C T I O N S
Thoughts on nature and the Christian faith - 2/21/22
"A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from
him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
- Jn. 10:5
I was photographing these two does as they searched for food in the snow on our property when I heard the voice of one of our neighbors calling for her dog. At the sound of that human voice both of these does raised their heads in unison in an effort to identify the source of the sound. The older doe seemed to recognize the voice as a human voice and then walked further away into the woods. The smaller one, however, seemed intrigued by the voice and slowly moved toward the sound. One deer moved away from possible danger, the other moved toward it. My guess is that the older deer had already learned that human voices can sometimes be followed by the sound of gun fire. You just have to learn which sounds can be trusted and which sounds should be avoided. I think of these two deer when I think of the various voices we hear that vie for our attention today. It seems that, as a culture, we have lost the ability to discern to whom or to what we listen. We can't even agree on where to find truth. We have divided into competing tribes that refuse to listen to one another. And, to make it worse, we tolerate those who speak lies and exhibit lax morals as long as they identify themselves with our particular tribe. Truth, if it is truth, should welcome scrutiny and examination. Christians, of all people, should value character above political views and adherence to scripture above what tickles the ear. In times like this, the church needs to be the voice of clarity and truth amid the cacophony of voices that pull us in all directions. Who we follow must reflect the One we claim to honor. Character counts, both in politics and in the church. Be careful whom you choose to follow. - John
Share Online
