Locking Horns

Every summer as I visit Montana, I have the opportunity to see much of the local wildlife.  The squirrels, the chipmunks, the elk and deer, an occasional moose, an eagle and her baby.  It’s a lesson in God’s creative diversity.

This past summer I had a chance to capture a photo of a buck in the velvet.  Deer shed their antlers every year (typically in the dead of winter, both antlers within a couple of days of each other), but they have a special tissue which is incredibly rich in nutrients, blood vessels and nerves which rapidly causes new ones to grow.  Eventually, they will rub against a tree or some other object to remove the velvet surface in preparation for mating season.

Occasionally, a deer might have a disagreement with another deer (usually over territory) which will cause them to get into what we might call a fisticuff.  The problem is that their horns can become locked together which can result in their deaths if they cannot get untangled.  They can no longer get water or food, and they perish in their locked position.

Humans obviously have no horns, but we have all at one time or another “locked horns”.  Thankfully, not to the death.  But, there is a lesson to be learned from these deer who get stuck together.  They both fought for what they thought was right.  Neither could back off and it cost them.

If we aren’t careful, we can easily get caught up in what we think is right.  We will fight to prove our point, and we can even get angry when the other person digs in and will not relent.  It’s an impasse.  No one is happy.  Things are said that can’t be taken back.  Feelings are hurt.  Relationships can actually be broken.

Pride can get in the way of a reconciliation.  We can wait for the other person to make the first move.  But, seriously.  Is it worth it?  Have you locked horns with someone?  Just so you know:  everyone loses – until one person steps forward to make it right.

“…put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord forgave you, so you also should you.”  (Colossians 3:12-13)