The Moose in my Backyard

Rev. Dr. Kate Winters

Okay, there is no moose in my backyard. At least, not yet. That doesn’t mean that I am not waiting in anticipation for a sighting. We have woods surrounding the west side of our two acres and you never know what is going to emerge. We have had deer, fox, mink, many turkey, a fisher cat, and what I swear was a wolf. Joel insists it must have been a coyote, but he didn’t see it! Luckily the morning I saw the bobcat walk past the house, he was able to catch its little bobbed tail before it disappeared into the trees. He might have questioned this sighting as well.

I know that many people visit our state hoping for a moose sighting. My dear sisters are among them, and they have yet to have their encounter. Until they do, I am going to have to put up with their ribbing declaration to me “There are no moose in Maine.” It doesn’t matter that we have seen many, have ph0tos to prove it, nearly collided with one in the car (which no one ever wants to do), and caught another running down a neighbor’s driveway right in the middle of town one early morning.

I get it. Until you’ve had your own enounter, it is hard to believe that such a majestic, some would say strange, creature exists. It is the same with God, isn’t it? You can hear all the reports, been told the awesome stories, but until you recognize anything you acknowledge as divine yourself, it all seems unbelievable.

However, there is always that moose in your backyard. The one that keeps you alert and hoping. The one that stirs your imagination, invites your keen attention, and fuels your search. I love that moose already, and although I haven’t yet seen him/her, its promise keeps my heart open and fuels my soul. Daily.

My hope is to write a book someday entitled The Moose in My Backyard: Spiritual Life in Maine. I’ve had so many images for God in my lifetime, but moose? Proof that the divine shows up in many shapes and sizes, keeping the fire burning in the soul.