As I sit here tonight, the snow is about to fall.  Just a couple of weekends ago, the weather was quite warm, providing a perfect day for a drive.  Taking advantage of the nice day, I took my camera and headed west.  My goal was to look for raptors and practice my photography skills.  There are plenty of large birds in our area this time of year.  While driving around I saw a bald eagle, a few golden eagles, an osprey, a vulture and several kinds of hawks.  Occasionally, one was close enough to actually take a picture.  I definitely need more practice with photographing birds.

The scenery was spectacular.  God’s hand is in every aspect of the nature around us.

Birds were not the only creatures I spied.  Near the end of my drive, I rounded a curve and saw a couple dozen deer lounging in the grass and behind some boulders, all relatively close to the road.  What was so unique in that view was that EVERY deer had its head up, and faced the same direction.    They appeared to be at ease and yet completely alert and aware of their surrounding at the same time.

That scene immediately brought to mind the parable of the 10 virgins.   All of the deer were like the virgins who had enough oil and were ready to meet the bridegroom.  The deer may have been at rest, but any danger arose, they were ready to run.  No of them would be left behind.  These deer were certainly not like the five who didn’t have enough oil.

Matthew 25:1-13

Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. ³ When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take olive oil with them. ⁴ But the sensible ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. ⁵ Since the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. ⁶ “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷ “Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ But the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ “The sensible ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy oil for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived. Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. ¹¹ “Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’ ¹² “But he replied, ‘I assure you: I do not know you!’ ¹³ “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.

We are called to be ever watchful and alert to our Savior’s return.  Scripture reminds us of that numerous times.

Ephesians 6:14-20

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— ¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.