When you’re in deep…
My wife always lets me know when there’s something interesting going on in our backyard, but I knew from the tone of her voice this morning that I was about to see something shocking. I grabbed the camera off the dining room table and headed quickly for the kitchen.
A deer looking for water in the drought-stricken Loganberry Pond had become swallowed up by the thick dark mud, and looked like it was in jeopardy of going completely under. We went out on the deck and I started firing off frames with the Nikon, as my wife and I discussed options.
We considered grabbing one of our kayaks to perform a rescue maneuver, but we realized the water level was too low for us to get close enough to assist.
The deer was alternating between remaining completely still for two minutes or more, and then thrashing violently in an attempt to escape the pond’s grip. After nearly 10 minutes, the deer had managed only to get itself deeper in the muck, and further from shore.
We thought the end was near, as the deer’s head was now getting coated with mud, but just as it approached the point of no return, the deer changed its direction and found some more solid pond bottom. Gradually, in a process that lasted another five minutes or more, the deer willed itself closer to the shore and finally broke free.
It was an inspiring effort, and one I won’t soon forget. I’ll be hanging a large photo of the stubborn deer on the wall of my basement gym as motivation for those times I’m tempted to quit before achieving my goals.
I wish you the very best as you attempt to avoid obstacles and overcome challenges in your life, and remind you to dig deep when you need it most. You are capable of so much more than you’ll probably ever know.
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