Doomed creature of God

Hail fell overnight, encrusting the foot-deep snow outside our cozy kitchen. Icicles fringed the roof, decorating the house in winter's magic. Bill and I took our usual seats opposite each other at the table eager to enjoy our favorite meal of the day, breakfast.

The plumber had already arrived and was busy in the basement installing an emergency sump pump as a backup in case of a power failure. Bill was burdened with a pulmonary disease and his mobility was hampered due to the necessity for a continuous oxygen supply from a nearby concentrator or with portable tanks when leaving home. He did not let this reality prevent him from bowling, golfing and working part-time as a salesman. A good sport and cheerful companion was my husband.

Glancing out the sliding glass door, I saw a scene that horrified me. I screamed while dashing toward the back porch. Instantly it became obvious that a deer, common visitors in our neighborhood year-round, had become impaled while attempting to jump over the fence. The doe's weight had caused the crust to give way and she struggled to free herself. Bill shouted for me to stay clear for fear I'd be injured by the terrified animal.

I ran back into the house and dialed 911, then remembering the plumber was in the cellar, shouted for him to come up immediately. Arriving at the scene he began to give me instructions so that the two of us could try to lift the distressed animal's rear end. When Bill protested, the plumber threw up his hands and in a commanding tone proclaimed, "Man, don't you know this is a creature of God?"

He spoke gently to the animal, murmuring, "Hush there now, we're here, we'll get you out of this fix." At this point the front door bell rang, and I ran to open it. A town police officer rushed through the house, saw the deer and drew a gun out of his holster. The plumber again took charge, imploring the officer to help him lift the deer to the ground, noting that there didn't seem to be any blood flowing.

The two men did just that, laying the animal down on a bed of soft snow. After further examination and agreement, the officer removed his holstered gun, pulled the trigger and put an end to the struggling creature's life. A police van soon pulled up and I watched with tears as the lifeless deer was taken away.

I will never forget this sad drama. Coming from a hunting family, I was accustomed to dead animals, to scenes of hanging carcasses and to eating their meat.

However, the actions and thinking of this plumber on that cold wintry morning will forever stay in my memory. I found out later that he had recently moved from Puerto Rico and possessed a deep spiritual nature. His words, springing directly from his heart, pierced the frigid air with truth, with the loving and evolutionary potential for which human history is reaching.

George Fox's admonition long ago in his letter from Lancaster Jail, "Be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations wherever you come that your life and conduct may preach among all sorts of people to answer that of God in everyone" was expanded that sad morning to include God's animals and in time I pray it will come to pass.

Dorothy S. Richards of Colonie is a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

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Doomed creature of God