I opened my eyes, and there he was.
Quiet, still.
Staring at me.
My saucer-wide eyes were astonished to see such an animal appear in our residential area.
Thankfully I was able to snap a photo before he sauntered away.
My encounter with the Ethereal Elk was brief; but the seconds that passed seemed expansive – and powerful.
During my daily prayer time since he appeared, I continue to remember that moment.
What struck me most was the tangle of ropes that hung from his rack.
Did I imagine that he looked helpless and forlorn, unable to discard them?
I so wish there had been a away for me to take them away.
My thoughts have churned about the jumbled mess that elk had to carry around.
And what God has shown me is that I have my own entanglements that need to be discarded.
Some of my doubts, fears and mistaken thinking have been part of my carry-on baggage for so long that they are in danger of becoming permanent accessories.
It’s time for some serious shedding.
Brené Brown, in her book, Rising Strong, talks about the stories we make up.
We can actually become trapped in those stories – so deeply that our brains begin to compose a story (however untrue) that we expect to hear. (parentheses mine)
It would be so nice if there were a special “mind conditioner” that we could use to comb through our knotted thinking.
Alas, undoing our wayward thoughts isn’t so easy.
Here’s where we need God’s help.
Courage and determination may start the process, but He is the one who can unravel the twisted ropes in our minds.
And allow us to shed them for once and for all.
Imagine how would it look if all of us walked around with our gnarled strands of “stuff” hanging outside of our heads.
Quite an image, wouldn’t you say?
Indeed, we are all lugging something around that we would love to dump.
Unfortunately, the Ethereal Elk had no choice. He was stuck with his ropes.
But, thankfully, we are not.
I pray that, with God’s guidance, we can all be brave enough to determine what we can dispose of.
And in doing so, enjoy the peace and serenity that result.
beWARM 
Thank you for sharing these thoughts. It would be humbling, to say the least, to have all my “gnarled strands of stuff” visible.
Thank you for writing! As humbling as exposing all of our “stuff” would be, we can be thankful that God loves us, no matter what.
I just read about your Columbia trip! Your story was heart “warming” I’m so thankful I know you and Joey…such a giving couple.
And we are glad to know you and Keith, too!!!
Beautiful! The Elk and your thought provoking insights.
Thanks for reading, Jeanene! Hugs to you….
HOW TRUE it is! Humbling. So glad you got to see that beautiful animal God placed there for not only you, but all of us. Such an analogy. Love it when God makes it so clear to us “what we need to work on”. Wish it wasn’t such a daily thing though. Wish it was only “once in a life time” occasion like seeing that huge elk. Beautiful!
I wish it weren’t a daily thing, too! But our life journey with Him requires us to continually take the time to hear His voice as He helps to mold us into HIs likeness – a lifetime process!
Well put! Love how you tied the elk, baggage, & Brene Brown all together :)
Thank you, Lois! And thanks for reading…..
What a special encounter, Toni! (I still think he found you as transfixing as you found him!) It seems to have a supernatural quality to it, and one that “asked” you to look deeper into the encounter with this beautiful, entangled animal – and you did that, so beautifully……!! (I need to get Brene’s book, I think…)
Loved this post Toni. Interweaving our tangled mind messes with his rope was truly inspired. I may need
to read Brown’s book.
Miss you!!
I miss you, too, Ingrid! And Brene Brown is one of my favorite authors. Definitely worth reading!