Lessons From a Dead Owl

This secluded stretch of highway about thirty kilometres from my home is deceptive in its serenity. Despite the fact that there are few travellers in motorized vehicles, there are plenty of travellers of another variety. One has to be on guard for moose, elk, deer and other four footed animals.

But owls? Who would think that an owl could be a hazzard?

Well, apparently it’s true. A particular owl reportedly liked to swoop across the highway right in front of oncoming traffic. It spooked both my husband and my daughter on more than one occasion as it came hurtling without notice across their line of vision. It was like he was playing his own little game of ‘chicken’.

Except he tried it one too many times – and lost.

My husband was travelling home one evening at around nine pm. Without warning the owl swooped in front of the truck and – SMASH – hit the windshield square in the driver’s side. As you can see, the entire drivers’ side was smashed. Glass sprayed my husband’s face and ended up all over the floor and seat. After his heart settled back to a normal rhythm, he stopped and picked up the owl – dead on impact.

He managed to drive the rest of the way home by leaning to the right and looking out the passenger side. Like I said, there is very little traffic, so he didn’t have to worry too much about oncoming cars, just keeping it between the ditches. Owls are a protected species so he reported the incident as soon as he got home.

It made me think about the lesson to be learned. That owl was deliberately playing a dangerous game that ended up in tragedy. Sure it was fun for awhile. Thrilling, even.

We might not be engaging in overtly dangerous behaviour, but there are things, I’m sure, in each of our lives that will lead to death if we don’t stop to consider the consequences.

There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to death. Provers 14: 12

This post was originally posted in early 2018 and has been reposted here for your enjoyment and reflection. Owl photo: ID 245773 © Kim Meagher | Dreamstime.com