There in the center of the trail, back lit by the rising sun, was a resident white tail buck. His antlers, glimmering in a halo from the sunlight, accentuated the grandeur of this beautiful creature. Amazed by their good fortune, the Madisons stood in awe. Anne desperately struggled with her desire to reach out to the magnificent creature. The buck, sensing her inner conflict, moved closer. Along with this gesture of connection came a vision of the couple stroking the buck’s long muscular neck. Slowly, they took several more steps forward. With respectful reverence, they both gently stroked the buck’s neck. Although cautious in their presence, he demonstrated no fear. He was a Being who was confident and in charge of his circumstances. He had extended an invitation, which was graciously accepted, and he was patiently waiting for the appropriate moment to engage in matters of importance.
“You are people of goodness,” he announced telepathically. “I am most grateful to have this time with you. Thank you for responding to my invitation.” The Madisons were beside themselves.
“I share your enthusiasm. This is also a dream come true for me as well. Often, I have imagined participating in a conversation with members of your species, and at last the opportunity has arisen. It is most gratifying that you are amenable to this unusual encounter.
“Your attempts to connect with us were noticed and appreciated; however, we initially were uncertain of your intentions, so we have been observing you. Forgive me for speaking so bluntly, but not all humans have our best interest in mind; therefore, we take a protective stance when we encounter your kind. However, after a lengthy period of observation and eavesdropping upon your conversations, we discerned that you were humans who could be trusted.
Anne’s face was beaming with joy, before the full meaning of his comment struck her. “Oh, my goodness,” she sighed, “your species lives in fear of us. I am so sorry. I cannot imagine what that must be like.”
Deeply moved by these two humans, he was inspired by the interaction. “The sorrow you feel within you is palpable. I am deeply touched by your remorse for my kind, and because of our encounter, I am hopeful for the future.” His response surprised Anne and David, and in turn, ignited their hopefulness.
“The empathy you show for my species encourages me to pursue more conversation with you. Would you be amenable to that possibility?”
“Yes!” declared the couple in unison.
“Your enthusiasm is most gratifying. I too am very excited about this long-awaited opportunity. As you so wisely intuited, our meeting is not a coincidence. I approached you because the time for action is upon us. The Mother is in great distress, and assistance from your species is desperately needed.
“Signs of the Mother’s struggles are evident. She is out of balance because of the pressures placed upon her, and as a result, major changes are occurring throughout her entire ecological system. These changes are causing great destruction across the planet, leading to more instability. She needs our help. Those of us in the animal kingdom are doing everything we can do to enable her health, but the truth is we are not the problem. Forgive me for speaking so bluntly, but long ago, our kind learned to live in harmony with the Mother. She has not suffered from our presence. Unfortunately, when the human species was introduced to this beautiful haven, they were not properly informed about the necessity for mutual co-existence with all other life beings already inhabiting the planet, including the Earth herself. This lack of understanding caused many problems, which progressively worsened to the point that the Mother is now in a very precarious situation.
“Your species can no longer ignore what is transpiring on the planet. What is happening is real and it must be addressed now. Your participation is essential because your species is the pivotal factor in this environmental crisis. Truthfully speaking, you are the problem! I regret that our first encounter requires me to speak so forthrightly, but the situation is of such importance that it demands our attention.
“The human species does not seem to understand the powerful, destructive impact it has upon the Mother and all the other inhabitants that reside upon her. You live your lives as if you are the only species that matters. Many of you are so preoccupied with your own preferences that you are truly oblivious to the rights and needs of others, including many members of your own species. Worse yet, there are those among you who are acutely aware of their irresponsible behavior towards others, and they simply do not care. They do what is in their best interest and do not care about their impact upon others with whom they co-exist.
“Such callous behaviors cannot continue. Mother Earth cherishes all her inhabitants and she cares deeply for the human species even though they are causing her great pain. She still cares. At her own expense, she continues for the sake of all of us who call her home. She has given too much of herself. She has made too many sacrifices for us. This cannot continue. We must come to her aid.
“A call to action is necessary. We must all come together on her behalf. This means that each of us who has the privilege of existing upon this planet must review our behaviors and discern how we are assisting her and how we are harming her. Will you participate in this self-discovery process? Are you willing to review your actions and discern what changes you must make to bring yourself into alignment with the Mother? Will you help her?” Anne and David stood silently taking in every word that the buck telepathically communicated. They were both in awe. The experience confirmed their concerns about the Earth’s circumstances. It was amazing to be called to task by this incredible life being. Anne responded first.