I climbed into the driver’s seat and headed toward town. There were a few things I needed to finish before Wednesday evening church began. My favorite songs were playing and I sang and kept rhythm on my gearshift and steering wheel. When I rounded the long curve, movement from the ditch caught my eye. Then BAM. CLUNK. BAM.

             A deer rolled and slid as its body encountered the grill of my SUV. I didn’t run over it, but she definitely flipped and went for a ride. The look of panic on her face as she lay on the center line burned into my mind. I pulled over and made sure my car wasn’t too damaged, then looked back at the deer. She was either stunned, paralyzed, or dead and there was nothing I could do to help her.

            When I rounded the curve, she was in the tall grass of the ditch. If she had stayed where she was, everything would have been okay. But the closer I got to her, the more she freaked out. The more she lost all touch with reality. And she bolted. Right into the grill of my car.

            And there are times in life we are just like that deer. We get spooked. Freak out. Lose all touch with reality. And we bolt. Sometimes we run away from hard things. Other times we run to unhealthy habits. Then there are times we crash under pressure.

            Just like the deer, if we could only ground ourselves in truth in the unexpected moments. Take in the full situation around us. Look at all the potential run-ins or hazards. And make rational, thoughtful decisions based on reality instead of fear. That deer would never have bolted if she wasn’t afraid. The same is true for us.

            Take a lesson from this crash course deer. When it seems there is no way out, what truth can we stand on to keep us grounded?