I grew up in Arkansas in the 1950s and remember when snow came to the Ozark Mountains many times in winter. These days, however, seasonal snowstorms occur infrequently.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that NW Arkansas will soon experience most winters with no snowfall, a result of human-caused climate change. Environmental scientists foresee that by mid-century, the mean yearly temperature for Northwest Arkansas will increase by almost five degrees, even with frequent and dramatic changes in annual weather patterns.

Speaking of dramatic, last night, it turned bitter cold here in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and snow began to fall. No cars were on the road, and nothing was moving.

Just before going to bed, I turned on the porch light and stepped out to have a look. Fifty feet from me, right in front of our driveway, a large coyote stopped in its tracks and stared at me with bright, glowing white eyes to see what I would do. As I quietly slipped back into my house, gently shutting the door and peeking through the window, the coyote resumed running down the street.

Many Native Americans believe that if a solitary coyote crosses your path, it can be a sign of “the trickster,” representing the potential for transformation and a need for cunning in a difficult situation. My “sighting” has me pondering: What are the odds I would go outside at the exact moment a coyote was trotting in front of my house during a rare Ozark snowstorm?

I shared this experience with my friend and spiritual advisor. He responded, “That’s the right question. Was this a gift from the Holy Spirit that you received because you are in tune and open, or a one-in-a-billion lucky coincidence? I know what I think.”

Two days later, I had another “sighting.” You just can’t make this stuff up! Is the universe calling my name?

I had just started my early morning walk, heading up the hill in the neighborhood across the street from my house. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a red fox darted into the street and, like the coyote two nights ago, stopped about fifty feet in front of me. The fox turned its head, looked me squarely in the eyes for just a moment, then resumed its journey, scampering across the street and disappearing into the trees.

Shapeshifter? Spirit animal? Vision?

I was curious what Saint Google would have to say about a solitary red fox crossing your path: “The spiritual meaning of a red fox is that they encourage us to be more flexible and adaptable to our current situations. They demand movement and swiftness in decision-making and allow for little hesitation.”

I’ve been thinking about seeing these two beautiful animals a lot. Here’s what I believe the coyote and the fox were trying to tell me: “Humans, listen! God created all things. Everything, especially all living things, is intricately connected in ways you can’t even imagine. We must learn from each other and depend on each other if we are to survive and thrive.” 

Global warming, pollution, and the loss of biodiversity are the challenges of our lifetime. Are we cunning? Can we be swift in our decision-making? Are we willing to adjust and adapt? I pray that we will say yes!

As the pace of the climate system breakdown accelerates, we need to apply these traits to our lives so we can do our part in healing Mother Earth. We must shift our worldview so that we can be transformed! 

That is the message the coyote and fox share with all of us—if we’ll only listen. God’s creatures are speaking: “Humans! The time to act is now!” 

But we must be smart in our choices and willing to act quickly and change how we interact with our world. That means we must devote ourselves to living deeply rooted in love and care. 

We must prioritize investing in each other’s well-being, health, happiness, and faith. We should develop relationships that find strength through mutual support and a commitment to love and community.

This is not just a Christian concern. Our siblings from Eastern religions have immense wisdom to offer. 

Thich Nhat Hanh writes: “It is possible that the next Buddha will not take the form of an individual. The next Buddha may take the form of a community–a community practicing understanding and loving kindness, a community practicing mindful living. This may be the most important thing we can do for the survival of the Earth.”

Love, hope, and community are the bedrock of climate change advocacy and the key to success in helping to protect and preserve the Holy One’s beautiful creation, filled with all living things trying their absolute best to teach humans how to survive and thrive in a rapidly changing world!

So, please, God, grant us the wisdom to listen!