A monarch falls, a Christmas lesson:

[Dennis S]

As I have mentioned before, we live in the Jemez Mountains of Northern New Mexico. I have been back for about 4 months since having my AVR in August. With my new valve, I am back to hiking about a mile up the large mesa behind us, to the spring that supplies our water. A few days ago, my wife and I rounded the last bend and ran into a magnificent bull elk standing near the spring. His rack had 12 points, and was at least 5 feet across. I judged his weight to be in excess of 650 pounds. He seemed very old and tired. He moved his huge frame behind a few trees, but they weren?t sufficient to hide such a magnificent animal. We quietly looked (I believe) into each other?s eyes from 50 yards away. I thought about the old battles he must have fought and won, the harems he had gathered and guarded, now a king soon to fall. Late yesterday I went back to the spring, and the old monarch had gone down for the last time. I turned around and quietly departed. I guess it doesn?t make sense, but I had hoped he would make it past Christmas.

But life is complex. This great elk will probably provide a wonderful feast for the mountain lion and her two large cubs which claim a fifty mile range across our mountain. Perhaps a Christmas feast, if you care to use your imagination. What has the elk provided for me? That question will take a long time to fully answer. But I am going to draw my family closer than ever. I think I will enjoy the warm fire a little better. And I will try to remember that this is precious and temporal. That the life we are given is not meant to be trivial. And each Christmas should be more precious than the last.

 

[Cooker]

Life on Lifes Terms

Life on Lifes Terms

Dennis,

Great story. It made me think of the recent country song that talks about living like we are dying. Thanks for sharing this. It made my day.

Merry Christmas.

Cooker

 

[hensylee]

well, bless your heart, Dennis. That is a beautiful inspiring post. Makes us all stop and think about yesterday, today and perhaps tomorrow. Thank you. Blessins......

 

[gijanet]

THank you so much.........

THank you so much.........

for sharing your story and your insight. Merry, merry Christmas! Hugs. Janet

 

[Jan]

Hi Dennis

Thanks for sharing the story with us, living in a city I rarely get too see animals in there natural habitat, you painted a most inspiring picture for me.

Thanks

Jan

 

[Christina L]

Sometimes animals die

Sometimes animals die

with so much more grace and dignity than human beings. It is as if they "know" the purpose of life and the purpose of dying. Such a beautiful (yet sad) story. Thanks for sharing.

Christina L

 

[gadgetman]

Dennis,

Thank You for the touching story.

When we got back from our trip to our daughter's, we were saddened to hear my wife's father say he found the remains of an 8 point whitetail deer just off the highway on our property. What makes it so poignant is the fact that we saw this magnificant creature (or one just like him) just last week standing next to our barn. An 8 point buck deer is usually 4 to 6 years old, sometimes even older. Just like your Elk it makes you wonder what God's destiny is for each and every one of His creatures, including us. The elk lived what appeared a full, fruitful life whereas our buck finally crossed this four lane road one time too many. Sounds too much like the trials and tribulations we face each day doesn't it?

We may never know what His plan is for each one of us. We can only live each day loving those we touch and those that touch us. As you say, the elk's death (and the buck's) may serve a useful purpose by providing an enduring quality of life to other creatures. In our own way, I hope and pray each one of us can say the same.

I guess my message here is for each one of us to live life to it's fullest, reach out to those we can help, be there to pick someone up when they fall, and to finally be there to wish them Godspeed when that time comes.

May God Richly Bless Each and Every One of Us,

Danny