Encounter

                             by Bill Mitchell

I know my woods. I love my woods. I walk in my woods almost every day and sometimes many times in one day. Even though I have arranged a few things, and planted a few things, I have left the woods pretty much a virgin. My purpose in this has been to attract wildlife. Even though this has been the objective it is rare for me to encounter an animal like a turtle. In fact, in the five years I have been nurturing this wood I have only seen a box turtle one other time before this day.

So, On the day of Wayne's passing I walked in the woods thinking of him and his spirituality and his being; when suddenly, startlinglingly, I looked up from my meditation and saw a perfectly blended box turtle peering at me warily as he stood very still, half poking his head out of his shell.

I welcomed this fellow being and thanked it for being there and allowing itself to be seen by me.  

I praised it and said Hallelujah! I felt honored and blessed and privileged to have this fellow creature in my presence. We had nothing to fear from one another.

I took a few pictures without touching my visitor. After we stared at one another for about 15 minutes, during which time the turtle did not move, I left for a very few minutes and when I returned the turtle was gone and no where to be found.

I thought: Was that Wayne's spirit? If so then it was a highly placed honor for me. Our meeting was brief but meaningful and pleasant and good.

To me that is what Wayne's life was about. May God bless his fine spirit and manifest the majesty of the Creator through him. Amen.

Bill