Watch for Deer

Watch for deer could be one of the most uttered phrases in rural small town Midwest America. Parents urge their teenage drivers to watch for deer as they head out of the driveway. Wives remind their husbands on the way to work. The words were on the inside of a glass door in a former restaurant here in town. You couldn’t miss it as you were leaving.

There is an obvious meaning to the phrase. Most people that have driven through the country have unfortunately ran in to a deer at one time. Indeed, the Missouri Department of Insurance estimates that vehicles hit over 3500 deer a year . I had my own experience on my way to work at 5 in the morning on Forest City hill, which is between the towns of Oregon and Forest City. I thought I had successfully dodged the deer when another one jumped out right after. Hence, any small towner riding with you in a car will warn you that if you see one deer, there are most likely more behind them. I was too new to the neighborhood to have learned that yet.

But, other than literal meaning, the phrase has an underlying meaning too. If a person tells you to watch for deer, they are telling you to be safe. They are looking out for you. When you tell someone else to watch for deer, you are telling them you care. Or at least that is what it means here in Oregon, MO. Other communities may have their own sayings. I want to know what you say in your community. Post in the comments or over on social media!

We hope to see you back soon and remember, Watch for Deer!

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The Word

Proverbs 27:9. “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.”