Soul Carving

      The rain has been falling for several hours now, with the occasional rumble of thunder. The blinds are open, but the light remains dim and gray.      I went for a walk earlier, before breakfast. I held an umbrella over my head and sang as I walked. I sang songs to remind me of my true identity, songs to fortify my faith and focus my efforts on a higher purpose than merely surviving one more day on earth. A few neighbors passed in their vehicles, but the only ears that heard my singing were those of the deer grazing in the nearby field. There were four of them, but only one raised it's head to see what was making the noise.       For these animals, I suppose survival is enough. They don't have a laundry list of chores to complete or goals to achieve. Their instincts tell them when it's time to eat and when it's time to rest, when danger is near and when to flee. But for me it's different. I don't rely so much on instinct as on ...