Deer vs Cow

Of an evening, my wife and I drive a loop that takes about 45 minutes, and we will see anywhere from a couple of deer, up to our winter "record" of 45.  Usually we see between 20-25 deer on a normal basis.

We pass many types of fields on the route, from corn to soybean to hay to pasture.  Many of the fields contain cows grazing.  You will never see deer in the same field as cows.  I am not saying it doesn't happen, but as a rule, deer are not in the same fields.  They may be in adjacent fields, but never the same.  Ever stop to ponder and wonder why?

I am sure science has an explanation...they always do : )  I think it is a matter of association.  In general, you would think deer would mingle with cattle.  Maybe not side by side, but at least by proximity.

Cattle go about their life grazing, never alert to danger, letting most anything get close to them, until the day they are led to the slaughter.  Deer on the other hand have constantly got to be on watch for harm coming their way.  If a deer has it's head down eating, the other has it's head up watching.  One ear will be listening to the left, the other ear twitching to the right.  Their nose constantly checking the air for danger.

I think deer find cattle to complacent.  If harm came to a herd of cattle, the deer would fall prey to it because cattle give no early warning signs.  Now I know those raised around cows will say I am wrong...but in general no...yes they'll stampede, but the stampede usually occurs after the danger has gotten too close, and in larger stampedes the ultimate result is death or injury to the cattle and possibly others around them.  The deer, it bolts with enough time before harm can get close enough.

I think deer find cattle as we might find a complacent Christian.  Accepting anything and everything coming their way...justifying evil for good.  I find deer to by like the "watchman on the wall", and not just warning themselves, but warning other wildlife.  I think I understand why deer don't associate with cattle...they cannot, for a minute, risk their lives to the complacently of the cows.

So be mindful...and choose your friends wisely...are you a cow or a deer type of Christian??