Now, I've Found Some STRANGE Things in My Life

      Walking across the campus of the college where I work, I noticed a bundle of fur hiding in the daylilies of the landscaping. Not wanting to frighten the animal, I approached cautiously to within about three feet. Using a calming voice I asked, "Hello? Are you okay?" (Okay, so I talk to animals --there could be worse things.) I still couldn't tell what it was. Bending down to its level I looked for the head or tail. I couldn't see either--just a single tiny claw in front. Was it a cat? A dog? The critter had to have heard me, but it made no movement. I feared that it must be sick, injured, or perhaps even dead. Going for assistance, I found the wrestling coach and asked him to come look at the strange animal in the bushes. We both approached to within about three feet, but he cautioned me not to get any closer. It could be rabid. While Mark searched for a stick to poke it with, I tried a different tactic. I softly tossed my steno pad on the ground, about a foot in front of it and waited for movement. Nope. I tossed it again. Not a stir. At this, Mark and I both decided that whatever it was must be dead. For a third time, I tossed my notepad so it landed right on top of the animal. The whole thing flattened into a furry pancake. Huh??? Seriously? A beaver pelt? I picked it up. A perfectly tanned, beautiful beaver pelt . . . in the middle of the college landscaping . . . in the middle of the city . . . with a $75.00 price tag stapled to the back of it. (I looked around for the hidden candid camera but saw none.) The pelt couldn't have easily or accidentally been dropped there, arranged so nicely off the beaten path. It was a mystery. Still is.
     So what does this have anything to do with angels? Was it some kind of sign? I'm not exactly sure, but today, a few days after finding my furry pal, a friend introduced me to her new deck of animal message cards. What was the first card I pulled from the deck? You guessed it. The beaver. According to Native American wisdom, the beaver's message includes:

• Maintaining the ability to be productive in all ways by not limiting your options
• Being persistent
• Using available resources
• Using alternate ways of doing tasks
• Master builder of all things
• Not damming the flow of experiences in life
• Achievement through completion of tasks
• Understanding dynamics of group work


Okay. Okay. I get the message. Just the one I had been searching an answer for.