Simple Reminders

Today I had a job interview. I am fairly certain I did not get the job. As sad as that is I am surprisingly cheerful today. But I suppose that's just because God sent me a sweet little gift immediately after.

As I was walking back from the interview I took a short cut along the creek. As I may have mentioned before the "canyon" as George Fox students call it, is one of my favorite places to go to be alone. I feel so calm and at peace when I am surrounded by trees and listening to the beautiful melody of the creek. So going to the canyon was a good option after the disappointing interview.

Hess Creek/The Canyon

I was just trudging along the slightly muddy gravel paths, my feet tracing the familiar ground, when something appeared ahead of me. I paused and started, momentarily surprised by the sight of a large animal bounding towards me.

A sinewy deer was coming towards me at a rapid pace. I immediately froze as he came nearer, not wanting to startle him. He veered to my right and leapt into the safety of the trees and cover of the plants. I watched on as he slowed down, coming to a stop fifteen feet away from me. My eyes took in a soft brown hide, wide dark eyes, and a expression of overall wariness. Atop his head a single antler stood up, the other obviously lost somehow. In spite of the silliness of his single antler there was nothing funny about his beauty. I seemed to forget to breathe as I stood stock still, examining this majestic creation with awe.

Not the deer I saw, but just to give a picture!

Only a split second or two passed. The deer glanced at me, barely seeing, before bounding off into the trees, finally disappearing from my view.

Needless to say my entire day was turned around. I feel a sense of peace and comfort in spite of the possible failure of my interview. And that wasn't all. God planted a few words alongside the deer. As I walked back to my dorm I began to hum a familiar tune and think on those beautiful lyrics that were written thousands of years before my time.

Yes, I was thinking of a Psalm.

Psalm 42

For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.

¹ As the deer pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for you, my God.
² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?
³ My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
    “Where is your God?”
⁴ These things I remember
    as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
    under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
    among the festive throng.

⁵ Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.

⁶ My soul is downcast within me;
    therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
    the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
⁷ Deep calls to deep
    in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
    have swept over me.

⁸ By day the Lord directs his love,
    at night his song is with me—
    a prayer to the God of my life.

⁹ I say to God my Rock,
    “Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
    oppressed by the enemy?”
¹⁰ My bones suffer mortal agony
    as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
    “Where is your God?”

¹¹ Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.
That simple sighting of a deer in the small wilderness near my dorm reminded me of this beautiful psalm. It truly is beautiful.

So with that simple reminder God has set the rest of my day in place to be filled with a sense of peace and joy in spite of bad circumstances. I am thankful to Him for this gift, and hope this post extends my gratitude.

Thank you for a simple reminder of your love, God.