Articles
Naphtali
R E F L E C T I O N S
Thoughts on nature and the Christian faith
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"Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears beautiful fawns."
- Gen. 49:21
The forty-ninth chapter of Genesis contains a description in poetic language of the twelve tribes of Jacob. One of those tribes, the tribe of Naphtali, was located in the hill country to the north of the Sea of Galilee. Perhaps the author of Genesis was referring to its isolated location when he described Naphtali as being set loose, or freed, from the influence of the other tribes. This independence apparently produced beautiful results. I thought of this description of Naphtali after I photographed this doe with her twin fawns. I usually see these three together by themselves, quite apart from other does with their young. And, for some reason, I feel a certain affinity with them. I am most comfortable when I am by myself in the natural world, freed to meditate and let my mind wander. I am by nature a nonconformist and my closest friends tend to be the same way. I follow current events and listen to popular culture, but always with a jaded view. I value the thoughts of those who have long preceded me, whose values and conclusions have stood the test of time. My wife Jo used to tease me by saying my best friends have all been dead for hundreds of years. I guess that is why I feel a kinship with Naphtali, I have been let loose, set free, from the need to conform. I gravitate to rebels. In fact, I am most attracted to the greatest rebel ever to have walked upon the earth, a counter-cultural trouble maker whose life and teachings turned the world upside-down, a man who lived as man was meant to live and who taught things that have divided the world for over two thousand years. And the thing about this man, and about those who follow him, and even about this doe, is that he bears beautiful fawns. - John
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