In this Faith Story, a quiet morning walk becomes a holy encounter. When a dog and a young fox unexpectedly play together at sunrise, the moment feels like a living glimpse of Isaiah’s peaceable kingdom, where fear gives way to joy and unlikely companions share the same ground. This story by Betty Schroeder invites us to slow down, pay attention, and recognize the sacred moments already unfolding around us, reminders that God’s kingdom is not only promised, but present among us here and now.
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. Isaiah 11:6
Several families of red foxes have settled in my neighborhood recently. Their beauty is breathtaking with their auburn fur and fulsome tails, long legs and surprisingly thin bodies. They hunt in the woods nearby and in backyards, moving silently through ditches and culverts like ghosts in fog.
On one sunrise morning walk, my dog Kipper ran behind a neighbor’s house. I called several times but was met only with silence. The rosy glow on the clouds in the east stole my attention until I sensed movement across the street. As I watched in amazement, Kipper and a young fox scampered into a front yard together and began chasing each other by turns, playing joyfully like two puppies.
I stood in stunned silence while they played together in the grass of eight front yards as they progressed down the block. Finally, obviously tired, the little fox disappeared into a culvert and Kipper walked back to me, exhausted but elated.
Standing in the dewy grass of a friend’s lawn, I felt incredible exhilaration and profound humility. Watching this precious vignette of God’s peaceable kingdom, I knew that I was standing on holy ground.
Prayer: Loving God of all that is, open our eyes to the miraculous glimpses of your kingdom. Help us learn to pay attention to the amazing beauty and mystery of all your creation and to realize that we are living now in your kingdom here on earth. Amen.
Betty Schroeder