Magical and...not so magical moments

I had the most magical moments on my hikes this week! I encountered and was able to capture images of several creatures, the showstopper being these three lovely deer that happened to run across the trail past me and then stop abruptly to check me out! I like to think that they were checking me out, because I gasped when I saw them and the three of them stopped and stared at me curiously, and I them. I hesitated to move, but hoping to capture a picture of them I cautiously fumbled for my phone and snapped several pictures. Then, feeling more brave, I crept across the trail and moved closer to the deer. They continued to look at me curiously, and not feeling threatened, began grazing. I did not dare get too close, and I was so excited to capture this moment! As a girl, I felt giddy as if I had seen a real live unicorn!

Another exciting moment happened when I was able to capture a picture of the ever elusive tiny frogs that I am constantly seeing on the trail! They are so well camouflaged, so tiny and so stinking quick I have been unsuccessful in snapping a photo. Then the other day, I managed to get pictures of two different frogs and one mid-leap! If you look at the leaf in the picture you can use it as a reference to see just how tiny these frogs are, barely an inch long when they are in a sitting position.

Last, but certainly not least, was this poky little turtle that was munching on a leaf in the middle of a turn on the trail! I picked him up to move him out of harm's way and he made the grumpiest sound--like a cross between a hiss and a harumph! I imagine this turtle being quite vexed with my moving him suddenly off the trail, and I could just picture someone accidentally trampling him!

Can you see and feel how ornery this turtle is just by this picture? Ha!

I am ever fascinated by all the things I run across on the trail! Even the animals have personalities! Curious deer, ninja skilled frogs, and cantankerous turtles!

On a more serious note, I took quite a tumble this week on the trail. I was moving at a fair pace, approximately 2.5 mph (based on distance/time) and my right ankle turned out. To try and catch myself I moved to balance my weight and tripped over a tree root, resulting in an inevitable fall and scraping of my left knee and shin.

I was thankful for my rag that I carry with me, and my water bottle and cleaned myself up and wrapped my leg with the rag and continued on my way. I have to say, the relief that my embarrassing stumble had not been witnessed was immense! As I limped the first few steps back on the trail, I made sure to watch carefully where I was walking. It made me chuckle to think how unobservant I can sometimes be when I am just spacing out and walking. I felt like a student driver, making sure to check ahead of me, the ground, and all around.

I also reflected on how this is so like life. You are just carrying on, minding your own business and-- when you least expect it, BAM...you fall or fail or something blind sides you! Whether there are bystanders to help you up, or you are alone, you have to make a decision to act. I suppose in this case, I could have sat on the ground and cried or waited for someone to come by. I did not. I looked around to see if I should feel mortified, saw that no one was around, and got busy tending to myself. I brushed the dirt off, wiped the blood off, and kept on going. I still had at least 3 miles to go, and I managed to finish them just fine.

I asked myself, what was the takeaway in this experience?

And I discovered, there is not necessarily a huge groundbreaking lesson. Sometimes rough things happen. How we respond to them and choose to act makes more of a difference in our lives than the actual unfortunate event. I have walked hundred of miles on these trails over the past few months, and have enjoyed all of my forays. This week especially, yielded some wonderful encounters with God's creations, and one stinky little fall.

It certainly isn't going to prevent me from throwing my shoes on and heading out again this afternoon!