Epiphany

The operative word for today is epiphany. Isn’t that a beautiful word? I can’t say it enough, four beautifully flowing syllables that reflect the meaning of the word when you say it out loud. When you say it, you feel something new, feel re-born, like you realized or have seen something for the first time or had a life changing event. There are very few words in the English Language that musically say what they mean, but that is one of them. There is little I can say positively about the French, but their language is a musical one that perhaps has no equal. However, there is one word that we share that rises above all others, “epiphany”. Actually, I don’t know what the French equivalent of it is ---probably, epiphany. Nevertheless, I have had several today, and could care less about the French.

My first epiphany is that my beautiful deer pets are more complicated than I first reported. As we laid out corn for their dinner and watched them nibble in peace for the first few times, we viewed an idyllic Walt Disney Film with Bambi in it. However, as the winter drags on and food gets scarce, they come down and become very territorial over their food. Today I witnessed the biggest Momma Doe rise up on her hind legs and fend off 7 other deer including a small buck and other Momma Does with their yearlings. Big Momma Doe allowed her yearling to come in and feed at will, but woe to the competition! I could not believe how aggressive she was---rearing up on those sharp hooves and boxing with them! I never want to be on the other side of that!. One epiphany is that Darwin is definitely right, the fittest survive. That’s probably a good thing, we don’t want unfit beings running the show. That would not be good. But then, that led to another epiphany, with all the options we have for unfit people to lead, they do rise to power and weakly run the show into oblivion. I think of Jimmy Carter for one…..but, I’m not forming analogies yet….well, actually, I think Jimmy Carter is a strong human being with a great faith and is a likeable guy, but let’s face it, he was a very weak President. He wouldn’t have been president of the forest out there feeding on deer pellets if he was with Washington, Lincoln and Reagan and only one could survive.

But the biggest epiphany of the day was my daughter “Ellie” calling me asking if I would be upset is she ended up in a different career than the one she has been on path for the last 10 years or so. She said she has realized that the competition for those spots in her job are very fierce, and would rather be in something she could enjoy going to work each day for and not have to cut somebody’s throat for in order to get a paycheck. Making a living at this new career would be a plus. Well, I thought, after seeing the deer, this is much better than having to face the big Momma Doe with the hooves raging at her. She had quite the epiphany, and thankfully so at a much younger age than I, she is seeing the big picture. She is looking ahead at a time with wisdom much beyond her years. That is another epiphany for me, seeing my daughter for the first time perhaps as an adult. I wish I had so much insight and wisdom at 20. Plus, here she is calling and asking me for advice. Now, that was a pleasure and treat beyond belief!!!! It was one of the most pleasurable moments of my life, to have my beautiful daughter, who has an IQ way above mine, call and ask me for my advice.

It is very clear to me that Ellie will continue to be the fittest to survive. She is beautiful, intelligent, dedicated and loves her family and the LORD OF ALL. I have always thought these things about her, never doubted her. However, tonight I had another epiphany, my loving baby daughter, is now a WOMAN. A gracious, loving, incredible woman who is not only my baby daughter, but my friend…..isn’t that an awesome thing to think about…. What a moment, what a joy when your baby girl also becomes your friend and confidant. What a joy, what an epiphany!!!!