The Lighthouse On The Corner Ministries

The Deer

By Ed Crabtree, Rev. ULC
©2002 The Lighthouse On The Corner Ministries

Reverend Ann recently shared with me the details of a dream she had one night not so long ago, and I was so touched by the profound symbolism that I felt compelled to share that dream with you. The following being what she told me.

I was in a great forest, the leaves of the trees having shed their summer green for the yellows, oranges, and reds of autumn, their fiery boldness a breathtaking testimony to God's plan, a palette of beauty, and I turned to see a magnificent deer standing in a small clearing. He was truly the Prince of the forest, his crown of antlers he held high and proud. The multitude of points on his rack indicating to me that his strength and wisdom must be great to have enabled him to have seen so many such autumns and grown such a crown.

The deer slowly turned as if to walk away and leave the clearing for the safety of the forest and I called out to him, "Wait, don't leave, I mean you no harm." And he turned back to face me and said, "Sushhhh, be quiet." "Why," I asked?

Again he said, "Sushhhh!" He then called out to me, "Quickly lay down beside me in this tall grass and be cautious, as danger approaches." The dear laid down in the tall grass but I found his attempt at hiding humorous as that great rack of antlers protruded high above the grasses in plain sight to anyone, but I followed his instruction.

Shortly several hunters their guns primed and at the ready, passed by just yards from our hiding place and the thought that they couldn't see that rack on the deer's head, to me was absurd. But they went on by and when a short time had passed, the deer looked at me with those great beautiful brown eyes and said, "The hunters were intent on shooting at me, and you would have been in danger of being hit by a stray bullet." "How is it that the hunters did not see your rack of antlers, it protruded high above and should have been easily seen by anyone," I asked? "They weren't looking for my antlers, their eyes and hearts blinded by their desire to see the entire silhouette of a deer, not the signs of my existence."

He arose and looked about at the nearby tree line and several more deer appeared out of the trees and gathered around us. Again he spoke to me, "Quickly climb onto my back, and let us fly away from this place." "I cannot ride upon your back, even though you are large for a deer, I am much too heavy and will hurt you." Again I was taken aback by those large brown eyes, when he looked directly into mine, and like a father lovingly admonishing his young, he said, " My child, you are as light as a feather, you see, you are an angel and just don't have your wings yet! Now climb upon my back." I got upon his back and as we flew away he added, "Your work upon earth is not finished, I have much to show you and your time here is short."

Ann went on to tell me how upon that deer's back together they flew up and over the treetops. She remembered that he revealed to her several visions, but these were not clear and she couldn't relate to me what she herself didn't understand. Finally they came to rest on a mossy bank by a mountain stream. Ann recalls that the deer told many things, most seemed like riddles, that she couldn't understand but she remembers him nodding his head motioning for her to look at the stream, and he said, "Behold as the waters rush by this place in that stream, so does knowledge. The answers you seek are in that water as it is the river of life. Drink and you will know. You must learn as much as possible for you have much to do." "But I am so tired," she told him. "I know my child, here rest your head on my shoulder." She said that she did as he instructed her and when she touched him she felt a wonderful resurgence of energy flow through her and wrapping around her. She compared the feeling to that of the sensation of a comfortable old quilt being placed around her, one of those feelings that are so warm and wonderful that you don't want them to end.

At the end of the dream she remembers that she turned into a little white Dove and she spread her wings and flew up into the sky, the feeling of freedom and the ability to see everything for miles around from that high vantage point was truly wonderful to her. Then she awoke.

Ann then asked me what my opinion of her dream was and what I thought it meant. Knowing Ann as well as I do, I knew that this dream was of profound spiritual importance. I was deeply moved by the story, so much so that a tear ran down my cheek as I gave her my thoughts.

I told her that the deer was no less than our Lord Jesus Christ appearing to her in the dream in the form of one of creatures of the forest whose simple beauty exemplifies the wisdom, strength and wonder of God's plan.

The hunters passing by, totally oblivious to his presence was indicative of mankind's search for the "Light" but failing to see the obvious. The deer's antlers were in plain sight for all to see, but as if unable to see the forest for the trees, the hunters, their hearts hardened, and their minds clouded by hate, greed, and jealously, failed to behold the magnificence of the rack of antlers on his head, and they passed by a great "trophy," unrewarded in their hunt.

The deer's comments to her that she is an angel, as yet without wings, I explained to Reverend Ann, comes from the many times that friends and even total strangers have told Ann that she is an angel. You see Ann is one of those wonderful individuals that have the unique ability to listen to people. It never ceases to amaze me how Ann can be anywhere, in the check out lane at the store, for instance or anywhere else for that matter, and a total stranger will start telling her their unsolicited "confession." Ann has an "aura" about her that sets her apart from her peers, one that draws people to her, at least those with an open mind and open heart. Ann is constantly telling me of experiences where she was out in public and a total stranger started telling her of a personal problem as a patient might consult with their therapist or someone might confide with their best friend, and what truly amazes me is how when called upon to do so, Ann can offer suggestions or advice that always seems appropriate. What a blessing, to have such an ability, and that is why I agree with all the other folks in the community, Ann is one of those "Angels Amongst Us."

We should all follow in Ann's example, when someone tells us of their problem, take a moment to listen, if one of your friends or a brother or sister called upon you to hear their problems, would you dismiss them in an curt or less than courteous manner? You see we are all God's children, so the next time someone calls upon you to hear their brief problem, take a moment to hear them out. In these times we have become so separated from society by work demands and the computer age that often times people cry out for just a moment of another's time to voice a frustration, fear, or anxiety. Consider this, what if you turned on the evening news or picked up the morning paper and learned that someone you know casually, like the clerk at the convenience store, your postman, a neighbor or anyone of a hundred other descriptions, and this person had out of frustration or depression committed an unthinkable act like suicide or even went on a murderous shooting spree. And had you taken just a moment to let this person cry on your shoulder, they might not have done the unthinkable. Advice is not always what these folks need just someone to talk too, think about it. Look at the popularity of talk radio, so many individuals airing their dirty laundry in public, just because the routine of their daily lives has separated them from the fellowship with society that they crave. So remember the "Golden Rule" and lend them an ear, you might just become an "Angel without wings" yourself and by your simple act of compassion, earn those wings, by makeing a difference in someone else's life.

In Ann's dream, the deer directed her attention to the stream, which represented the river of life, this representation is another powerful symbol and concept. What makes us unique, as individuals is the sum total of the events we have witnessed and experienced in life. These lessons have shaped our lives into what we have each become today. Consider this, as a child most of us learned that should we stick a curious finger into the flame of a candle or other source of heat that was sufficient to cause pain, that pain was sufficient lesson to teach us not to stick our fingers into the flame again. On the other hand we learned that when we performed an act that others found favor with, we would receive some sort of positive reinforcement. These two situations are common experiences to all of us, however the other vistas along life's pathway have etched indelible photographs in our minds and hearts and formed us into what we are today.

Perhaps you might have at one time in the past witnessed a drunkard in a stupor lying in the gutter. Perhaps this scene left you with a feeling of disgust and now you have animosity towards all who would reach that state of existence. Did you ever consider that the drunk might have been an angel put there by God to teach others various valuable lessons? Look at the effect that the scene had on you. That disgusting scene etched in your mind possibly has prevented you from placing yourself in the same position. We need to look at all the vistas, experiences we have had and scrutinize each one for a lesson that God was trying to teach us for within our own souls there is great knowledge to be found. Many times the answers to life's question come from within. How can you know where you are going in life, if you don't know where you have been? Seek and you will find. If you can without deceiving yourself find that you have thus far lived an exemplary life, then you are blessed. Never try to rationalize or justify your actions when your heart tells you that you were wrong, as deceiving one's self is to open the doorway of your heart and soul to the forces of evil and destruction. But with the wisdom of Solomon judge your past and then if your heart calls for redemption, remember that God is with you always with and all you have to do is open your heart and mind and he will make his presence known.

It has often been said that you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. This is also true with the river of life, we can tell you all about the wonderful knowledge, the wonderful feelings you have when you drink of the water and it flows through you and warms you and enlightens you when the Holy Sprit makes itself known unto you and the wonderful light of the Lord shines upon you. But unless you drink for yourself, seek salvation through the works of Jesus Christ and truly open your heart and mind to him, Baptizing yourself in those waters, then you have missed such a wonderful opportunity to experience the greatest sensation ever known, the freedom of salvation and the truth of Christ's message.

So won't you do as Ann did in her dream, drink of the river of knowledge, the river of life, let Christ's message set your soul free from spiritual bondage and become as a dove and soar above the clouds of hate and evil and journey towards the light of God? If you know God won't you witness to others by your precept and good example and become one of those Angels Amongst Us, demonstrating that through common courtesy and that by living the tenants of the Golden Rule will create for all a better life?

Won't you join with those of us who have looked within for the answers and found we had just been blinded by our own shortsightedness in our search for salvation and that God was always right there in front of us reaching out to take us into his arms?

If you want to find out more and surrender yourself to Christ and enter into the service of God, click here, or if you just want to join us on our journey to the light of Christ's message, click here for more information.