Two days ago, my man and I were driving on some backcountry roads in Minnesota.
As we passed the end of a long driveway, I swore I saw a baby fox peeking out from the tall grass. My man saw it too and slowed down, as we passed the driveway.
“Is he hurt?” he said.
“I don’t know. Let’s go back,” I said.
We turned around, and sure enough, this little fox was all by himself.
He didn’t seem to care that our truck had pulled into the driveway next to him.
I rolled down my window, and the little fox and I were only 7-8 feet away from each other.
He looked right into my eyes and then dismissed me as he fervently looked around.
Anytime a car would pass by; he would duck into the tall grass.
After it would pass, he would poke his head up again and look around.
My man and I sat there for a solid 10 minutes assessing our choices.
This little fox was CLEARLY alone.
We’ve rescued a few wild animals in our day, but for the most part, we try to leave nature alone as much as possible.
Now imagine this scene.
We are at the end of a driveway, in a truck, a few feet away from this baby fox in the grass.
I’m Googling information about when mama foxes leave their babies.
Across the street, a female deer and her baby spot the fox too.
They cross the street right by us, looking at the fox as perplexed as we were.
It was like they were thinking, “What’s this little fox doing here all by itself?”
And then we decided.
The fox would be fine.
We quietly pulled the truck out of the driveway and drove home.
On the way home, we consoled ourselves,
“The baby fox looked like a dog waiting outside of a store for it’s human.”
“Yes. It was scanning every deer or human face as if to say, ‘No. Not you. You’re not my mom.'”
“Yes. I’m sure he or she will be fine.”
“Remember, there is a farm nearby. Maybe there is a chicken coop.”
“Yes, and Google says that the mom’s leave for periods when they are that age.”
We couldn’t stop thinking about that little fox for two reasons.
One, he was SO unafraid.
I have never seen such a bold, wild creature.
Next, he was SO sure that his mom was coming back.
He was PLANTED in that spot.
He was in his knowing.
He was SURE that everything was just fine and that his mom was on her way.
He was so sure of it that he helped us to get into our “knowing” about his well-being too.
When it was all over, besides being mildly upset with myself that I didn’t take a picture, I had several realizations.
First, all is well. Really.
Next, when you are in your “knowing,” you can stay focused on a course of action forever.
Also, we should all be more like that little fox and KNOW that just like his mom will find him, our clients will find us.
And finally, I was reminded that if you’re not 100% in your “knowing,” then you can get yourself there. It’s easy to feel more “knowing” when you’re thinking soothing thoughts.
It reminds me of a quote I once heard, “When you’re certain of the outcome, it’s easy to have infinite patience.”
All is well. Really.
🙂 Dana
