A Kindred Spirit: Thursday Photo Prompt

As I stumbled in the snow, trying to find my way back to the car, I chanced upon a large male deer with a beautiful rack of antlers. He appeared first as a specter in the snow, and I was afraid.

But, as my eyes adjusted, I saw him looking right at me, not moving aggressively, but just standing still. I realized that he was as scared of me as I was of him. I stopped, as well, attempting to reassure him that he had nothing to fear from me.

I said, “Big guy, I just want to get to the warmth of my car and get safely home. I am not a danger to you!” I believe he understood me, for he continued to stand and commune with me. I had to wonder what I must have looked like to him, in a loud blue-green parka, hood up, with over-size glasses.

I think we both came to the conclusion that the other wasn’t a threat. Eventually, he very majestically turned and ran back into the woods, and I continued on to my car. But that simple exchange had moved me to tears.

There in a glade of trees on a snowy late afternoon, with a large deer as my only companion, I realized that we are all one in the universe, connected by our great Creator, in ways we don’t fully understand. Looking into his eyes, I felt a kindred spirit was standing in front of me, one that saw into my heart and I into his.

Written for the Thursday Photo Prompt from Sue Vincent. Word of the Day prompt is Stumble. Your Daily Prompt is Specter.