Sometimes a writing prompt takes us down unexpected roads. Today’s prompt is: What’s your favorite animal? Truthfully, I can’t pick just one. I love animals—dogs, cats, birds, any furry friend—but for this piece, I’m focusing on the owl. It wasn’t always a favorite; it’s just that I had a strange, unforgettable encounter with one when I was nine years old.

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A Glimpse Under the Pine Tree

I was living in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, near the foothills. One warm summer evening, just after sunset, my sister and our dog, Napoleon, dashed into the house at our mom’s call. I lingered at the screen door, pausing to look back at our yard. That’s when I saw something glowing beneath our big pine tree.

It looked like an owl, but metallic—its feathers shimmered with a golden sheen, and in that moment, the world around me seemed to go silent. No breeze, no distant chatter, no dog barking. My heart pounded as I stood there, torn between shutting the door and investigating more closely. Before I could decide, the shimmering owl launched itself at me. I braced for an impact that never came. Instead, it felt as though the bird dissolved, merging into me in a flash of light. Just like that, it was gone, and I was left gripping the screen door, breathless and bewildered.

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Did It Make Me More Open to the Unexplained?

Absolutely. When you’ve seen—or at least believe you’ve seen—something so out of the ordinary, it’s hard to dismiss the possibility of the unexplained. For years, I’ve tried to piece together what happened, but the memory remains as vivid and surreal as ever. Friends and family have sometimes looked at me askance or teased me about having an “overactive imagination.” Maybe that’s part of it. But in my mind’s eye, I can still see the golden glow and feel that moment of silent awe. The fact that nobody else I know has experienced anything like it simply reinforces my openness to mysteries we can’t quite explain.

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Influence on My Relationship With Nature or the Spiritual Realm

People have asked whether this encounter deepened my connection to nature or introduced me to a new spiritual path. The honest answer is: I’m not entirely sure. I’ve always appreciated the natural world, but I wouldn’t say this event turned me into an avid birder or a spiritual guru. What it did spark, however, is an enduring curiosity about the unknown. It made me wonder if there’s more to this life than what meets the eye—possibilities and phenomena that can’t be fully measured or explained.

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Owls Through the Ages

Over time, I’ve read about owls in various cultures. They’re symbols of wisdom and knowledge in ancient Greece, often seen as spiritual messengers in indigenous traditions, and in some places, they’re viewed as omens—good or bad. Regardless of the folklore, owls remain captivating because they roam the borderland between night and day. Their haunting calls and nocturnal flights evoke a sense of mystery, one that speaks to the secret corners of our world.

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Reflections and a Final Thought

Looking back, that surreal encounter has stayed with me for decades. It made me question reality, wonder about the spirit realm, and accept that some things defy simple explanation. Not everything can be wrapped up neatly in facts and figures. Perhaps owls—and moments like these—remind us that life isn’t always about certainty. Sometimes it’s about standing in your backyard, staring into the impossible, and realizing there’s more to existence than we’ll ever fully understand.

So, is an owl my favorite animal? Maybe. If only because it taught me one of life’s humbling lessons: The unknown is vast, and sometimes, what we need most is the courage to step beyond our usual boundaries and embrace what can’t be explained. It’s a reminder that mystery can be a gift, nudging us to keep an open mind and a curious heart.

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Thank you for reading and sharing in this moment of mystery with me. If you’ve ever had an inexplicable experience—whether with an animal or otherwise—I’d love to hear about it. Sometimes the best thing we can do is admit we don’t have all the answers and look forward to the questions yet to come.