Entangled
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 (NKJV)
A few years ago, we had a big buck whose antlers got tangled in rope that was meant to hold up a bush. Frantically, he thrashed and kicked and finally the horn tore off. By the time this had ended, the neighbor had come to help. He was awarded the large five-point antler. We were not sure that the deer would survive but a few weeks later it returned and was dubbed Half Rack. Shirley Raye Redmond (All God’s Creatures) shares a similar story with a happy ending.
*****
We frequently have deer in the backyard of our New Mexico home in the foothills of the Rockies. But one winter afternoon a large eight-point buck wandered in to lick the seeds from my bird feeder. A long, frayed rope appeared to be tangled in his antlers on one side of his head. The rope was so long that it dangled between the buck’s front legs. While not frantic, the buck was obviously hampered by the trailing rope. When he moved forward, he would sometimes step on the rope which would then jerk his head sharply to one side. Seemingly exhausted from his ordeal, the buck finally settled underneath my apricot tree to rest.
I felt a sudden surge of pity for the poor creature, but there was no way for me to get close enough to help. Occasionally, I have felt that my life was a messy tangle too—the sort of tangle that leaves one feeling both physically and emotionally drained—the kind of mess I cannot extricate myself from on my own no matter how hard I try. Perhaps we’ve all experienced situations like that. Over the years, I’ve learned to turn to God for help, to free us from the coils and tangles of sin.
Eventually, the buck moved on, but not before a neighbor snapped a photo with his phone and called the local US Fish and Wildlife office. Later I learned that the animal had been tranquilized and the rope removed from his antlers. I said a silent prayer of thanksgiving for the deer’s rescue—and for my own.
Heavenly Father, thank You for taking care of us and Your creatures. Help us not to get tangled in sin. Teach us Your ways and let us stay on the path You have chosen for us. AMEN.