Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
The Call of the Wild
(Joe Finney - Lodge Creek Calls - www.lodgecreekcalls.com)
I’m not sure what it is. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but there’s something about a passion for the outdoors that’s built into a man’s DNA molecules. Maybe it’s because God made us from dirt (Genesis 2:7) that we are drawn to the forests, swamps, and fields in search of finned, feathered and furred quarry. There’s something deep within our soul that pulses these “outdoorsy” hormones through or veins. No scientist or doctor can describe exactly what it is that drives sportsmen into remote places and often in the harshest of weather conditions in their pursuits. What would be described as ridiculous and sheer torture to some is seen as paradise to those affected by this phenomenon. Although it has not been described by scientific experts, it’s commonly referred to as the “call of the wild.” If you are a hunter or fisherman you know what I mean. If you’re not I understand that you don’t understand and there’s nothing I can do to explain it with any amount of justice.
Hunters “suffering” from the call of the wild often, while in pursuit of a variety of critters, use calls in an attempt to bring game within shooting range. Some of the most common calls used are by those hunting waterfowl, deer, elk and turkeys. It’s takes lots of practice to become really proficient at calling in game. For calling to be effective, it must sound like the critter you’re calling. One of our very own Heart of a Sportsman fellas, Joe Finney, has become quite good on many of these game calls, especially the goose call. Joe has taken this “call of the wild” to a whole new level. If it can be called to, Joe will call it (and he will kill it too, before I forget it!). He recently joined the pro-staff of Lodge Creek Calls and is headed to the NC coast for the 2009 Southern Classic duck, goose and swan calling championships on February 7. Good luck, Joe!!!
God has used His creation that we love so much to call to us. It’s another “call of the wild” if you will. His creation declares His glory, His power and majesty. It’s hard to not believe in God if you experience the outdoors the way sportsmen do. That very God who created the universe wants a personal relationship with you through His son Jesus Christ. He’s calling – why not answer?
“For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Romans 10:13
Hunters “suffering” from the call of the wild often, while in pursuit of a variety of critters, use calls in an attempt to bring game within shooting range. Some of the most common calls used are by those hunting waterfowl, deer, elk and turkeys. It’s takes lots of practice to become really proficient at calling in game. For calling to be effective, it must sound like the critter you’re calling. One of our very own Heart of a Sportsman fellas, Joe Finney, has become quite good on many of these game calls, especially the goose call. Joe has taken this “call of the wild” to a whole new level. If it can be called to, Joe will call it (and he will kill it too, before I forget it!). He recently joined the pro-staff of Lodge Creek Calls and is headed to the NC coast for the 2009 Southern Classic duck, goose and swan calling championships on February 7. Good luck, Joe!!!
God has used His creation that we love so much to call to us. It’s another “call of the wild” if you will. His creation declares His glory, His power and majesty. It’s hard to not believe in God if you experience the outdoors the way sportsmen do. That very God who created the universe wants a personal relationship with you through His son Jesus Christ. He’s calling – why not answer?
“For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Romans 10:13
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Cade's First Deer
As a parent there are many special “firsts.” You know what I mean - your child’s first steps, their first word, or their first smile. Last week, I had one of those special firsts. If you’re a hunter you would probably agree that it ranks right up there at the top of the list with the others – your child’s first deer. My boy, 9 -year old Cade Elijah Harrill, put the smack down on a his first whitetail.
It was not our first time hunting together. We’ve hunted together several times over the past few years and he was even with me when I harvested a small buck several years ago. However, this year Cade was not just along learning the ropes from his old man, he was the “trigger man.”
The forecast looked bleak with heavy rain on the radar. We headed out for an evening hunt in a down pour. It was literally raining like crazy, but we decided to brave the elements because the season was winding down and our opportunities to hunt were growing fewer. Because of the rain we headed to a spot that we’d never hunted before. A friend of mine had offered us an opportunity to hunt a box blind that he had constructed on his property. I figured that there we’d at least be able to stay dry if it continued to rain. The driving rain finally broke and gave way to a spot of sunshine. Not long after the rain stopped, the “sacrificial deer” stepped out into the firing lane. We got the rifle in position, Cade found the deer in the scope, put the crosshairs behind the deer’s front shoulder and then asked me to cover his ears. I couldn’t help but chuckle at his request but quickly covered his ears liked he asked, flipped the safety and before I could hardly say a thing, BOOM!!!!! The round from the Remington Model 700 .223 found its mark on a doe and she piled up not 15 yards from where she was shot. Cade was proud of that deer and I was proud of Cade. It’s a special moment that this dad and son will cherish forever. Great job Cade!
Now, let me give you some background on how this season unfolded. Before the beginning of the season Cade had learned to shoot and had become very proficient with a rifle that my neighbor had let us borrow. That got me excited, because I knew that that was a major obstacle standing in the way of Cade actually being able to harvest a deer by himslf. Once this happened, my goal (really more like my life’s ambition) for the season had become to get my son his first deer. I worked and thought constantly on how I could make it happen. The stand had been moved to the perfect spot along the edge of a field. A food plot had been prepared in one corner of the field to bring in the deer. I cut limbs that might hinder any rifle shot from the stand. I added camo netting to block any movement from a 9-year old’s lack of attention and experience, and I bought and poured out countless bags of corn to sweeten our honey hole. I had worked diligently to make it happen. If you asked my wife she’d probably tell you that I was a little obsessed with the whole thing. We hunted and hunted once the season came in but I just couldn’t make it happen. Honestly, I got frustrated and really started to feel the pressure as the season wore on. I dreaded the thought of having to wait an entire year before we got the chance again. I even started to worry that Cade would get discouraged and never want to come back. All I thought was, “What else could I do to make it happen?” All that I had done and all the work was just not enough to get him that first deer. Then, on a rainy Thursday we ended up hunting at a completely different location than the one where we had been hunting . We had worked so hard trying to kill a deer at our spot but ended up at a place where we had done no work and were finally able to close the deal on a deer. Here at this spot, I had built no stand. I had not cut shooting lanes, prepared the location or spent any muscle or money putting out corn. It was all done by someone else. My friend, Hunter Norman had done all the work and let us hunt his spot that day – what a gift!
In this hunting story of a young boys first deer, there’s a great spiritual lesson to be learned. So many people look at their spiritual life the way I looked at this hunting season. I thought working hard and doing things right would guarantee success at our spot in the end – but it didn’t. Along those same lines in life, many believe that working hard, doing things right and being good will put them in the good graces of God and get them to heaven. Eventually this only leads to disappointment and frustration. Gods word tells us in Ephesians that “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works.” You see, the only thing that guarantees success in the end, has already been done by someone else. That someone else is Jesus. He died for you and me and nothing we could do could be good enough to earn salvation. If we could earn it, then Jesus wouldn’t have had to die. He died for you and for me. He loved us that much! Just like Cade’s deer, all the work I had done at our hunting spot didn’t result in the harvesting of his deer. It was all because of the generosity of a friend who gave us the gift of letting us hunt his stand that led to that momentous occasion. Had we not taken him up on his offer, we’d still be searching for that first deer. God too, offers a gift, a gift greater than any other and one that’s availaible to everyone. In Romans 6:23, God tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of god is eternal life in Christ Jesus.” Take Him up on His offer and receive the gift of His son Jesus Christ.
Special thanks to our friend Hunter Norman for letting us hunt your stand – you’re the man. To Mr. Benny, the best neighbor a person could have - thanks for helping Cade on the firing range and letting us use your rifle. We are forever grateful – God bless you both!
It was not our first time hunting together. We’ve hunted together several times over the past few years and he was even with me when I harvested a small buck several years ago. However, this year Cade was not just along learning the ropes from his old man, he was the “trigger man.”
The forecast looked bleak with heavy rain on the radar. We headed out for an evening hunt in a down pour. It was literally raining like crazy, but we decided to brave the elements because the season was winding down and our opportunities to hunt were growing fewer. Because of the rain we headed to a spot that we’d never hunted before. A friend of mine had offered us an opportunity to hunt a box blind that he had constructed on his property. I figured that there we’d at least be able to stay dry if it continued to rain. The driving rain finally broke and gave way to a spot of sunshine. Not long after the rain stopped, the “sacrificial deer” stepped out into the firing lane. We got the rifle in position, Cade found the deer in the scope, put the crosshairs behind the deer’s front shoulder and then asked me to cover his ears. I couldn’t help but chuckle at his request but quickly covered his ears liked he asked, flipped the safety and before I could hardly say a thing, BOOM!!!!! The round from the Remington Model 700 .223 found its mark on a doe and she piled up not 15 yards from where she was shot. Cade was proud of that deer and I was proud of Cade. It’s a special moment that this dad and son will cherish forever. Great job Cade!
Now, let me give you some background on how this season unfolded. Before the beginning of the season Cade had learned to shoot and had become very proficient with a rifle that my neighbor had let us borrow. That got me excited, because I knew that that was a major obstacle standing in the way of Cade actually being able to harvest a deer by himslf. Once this happened, my goal (really more like my life’s ambition) for the season had become to get my son his first deer. I worked and thought constantly on how I could make it happen. The stand had been moved to the perfect spot along the edge of a field. A food plot had been prepared in one corner of the field to bring in the deer. I cut limbs that might hinder any rifle shot from the stand. I added camo netting to block any movement from a 9-year old’s lack of attention and experience, and I bought and poured out countless bags of corn to sweeten our honey hole. I had worked diligently to make it happen. If you asked my wife she’d probably tell you that I was a little obsessed with the whole thing. We hunted and hunted once the season came in but I just couldn’t make it happen. Honestly, I got frustrated and really started to feel the pressure as the season wore on. I dreaded the thought of having to wait an entire year before we got the chance again. I even started to worry that Cade would get discouraged and never want to come back. All I thought was, “What else could I do to make it happen?” All that I had done and all the work was just not enough to get him that first deer. Then, on a rainy Thursday we ended up hunting at a completely different location than the one where we had been hunting . We had worked so hard trying to kill a deer at our spot but ended up at a place where we had done no work and were finally able to close the deal on a deer. Here at this spot, I had built no stand. I had not cut shooting lanes, prepared the location or spent any muscle or money putting out corn. It was all done by someone else. My friend, Hunter Norman had done all the work and let us hunt his spot that day – what a gift!
In this hunting story of a young boys first deer, there’s a great spiritual lesson to be learned. So many people look at their spiritual life the way I looked at this hunting season. I thought working hard and doing things right would guarantee success at our spot in the end – but it didn’t. Along those same lines in life, many believe that working hard, doing things right and being good will put them in the good graces of God and get them to heaven. Eventually this only leads to disappointment and frustration. Gods word tells us in Ephesians that “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works.” You see, the only thing that guarantees success in the end, has already been done by someone else. That someone else is Jesus. He died for you and me and nothing we could do could be good enough to earn salvation. If we could earn it, then Jesus wouldn’t have had to die. He died for you and for me. He loved us that much! Just like Cade’s deer, all the work I had done at our hunting spot didn’t result in the harvesting of his deer. It was all because of the generosity of a friend who gave us the gift of letting us hunt his stand that led to that momentous occasion. Had we not taken him up on his offer, we’d still be searching for that first deer. God too, offers a gift, a gift greater than any other and one that’s availaible to everyone. In Romans 6:23, God tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of god is eternal life in Christ Jesus.” Take Him up on His offer and receive the gift of His son Jesus Christ.
Special thanks to our friend Hunter Norman for letting us hunt your stand – you’re the man. To Mr. Benny, the best neighbor a person could have - thanks for helping Cade on the firing range and letting us use your rifle. We are forever grateful – God bless you both!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Samuel's Buck
Top: Samuel pictured with his big buck and his proud father, Leonard.
Bottom: 
Samuel with hunting guide, Alan Kerley.
Samuel with hunting guide, Alan Kerley.I don't know exactly where to start my story. I believe I will start from the beginning. The story starts at the Oakdale Baptist Church. We were having our annual yard sale and auction to help support our missionary family in Rwanda Africa. Now, being one of the top professional hunting and fishing guides in the state, possibly the World, I decided to donate one of my highly sought after deer hunts to the auction. Surely, by the grace of God, I had the entire hunting season available to provide such an experience. Now keep in mind, generally bidding on a guided deer hunt with me would most certainly sale for thousands of dollars, but apparently, not everyone at the auction could understand the auctioneer very clearly because the hunt sold for a mere $80.00. This was obviously the deal of the century. After the hunt sold, the family that bought the hunt came up and we talked...wonderful folks, the Tackett’s. I told them about the highly top secret spot we would be hunting off of Elmwood Road near the Cornerstone Baptist Church. As the big day arrived, I realized that I had to make sure that everything was just right, so I began my preparation two weeks before the hunt. First, I went and bought a 50 lb bag of corn and drove over to the highly top secret spot off of Elmwood Road and opened the two gates that I have to go through to make it down to the honey hole. I drove the Dodge Ram 1500 King Quad down to the creek, stopped the truck, hopped out, opened the bag of corn and poured it out over a 100 yard area. I then grabbed the Grizzly G30 hub pop up blind and set it up. The scouting and preparation was now completed.
The big day. I picked Leonard and his son Samuel up at 5:45 opening morning. We headed over to the highly top secret spot off of Elmwood road. The morning started off slow, and I must be honest, I was starting to have my worries when we had not seen a deer by 6: 40 am. It was around 19 degrees, but Samuel acted like a seasoned hunter and was hanging in there like a trooper with his 12 gauge pump in hand. I wasn't sure about the range of the shotgun but Leonard assured me that his effective range was easily out past the corn pile. At 6:50 am, Leonard spotted the deer first coming from our right. Leonard let us know that the deer was approaching, so I put my binoculars on the deer and quickly observed that the deer we thought was a doe had a nice set of antlers on his head. As the deer approached, Leonard told Samuel to ready himself and do it just like he had shown him. I ranged the deer and he was 70 yards away. I didn't know how this was going to work out, but when Samuel pulled the trigger I saw the deer hunker down, so we knew he had made a good hit on the buck. We gave the deer about 11 minutes to expire and we started on the track. One problem, no tracks, no blood, no sign. I watched the deer go into a thicket, so we went to the thicket. I went high and Leonard went low. I called Samuel up to where I was and told him that maybe he should do the tracking since he had much more keen eyes than his daddy and I, not ten yards from where Samuel took up the track he spotted the deer lying in the thicket. I have never seen a more happy young man then right at that moment. Let me tell you, God sometimes blesses you when you least expect it, and this was an experience I will never forget. I consider myself blessed to be able to go out and experience God's beauty. How many times do we take that beauty for granted, just like so many more of God's blessings? The next time you are out in the woods sitting in your stand, or in a duck blind watching the sun come up, or listening for that first gobble of the year, let's take a minute to give God thanks for this precious gift we have. And if you know a young person that has never experienced the gifts we take for granted, I challenge all of you to share our wonderful gift with them. We can't waste the gifts we are given, for example God has blessed me with an amazing Tri athlete figure, dashing good looks, spectacular personality, and I am truly thankful for his blessings. My wife tells me each and every day just how lucky she is. Did I mention God has blessed me with a great imagination?
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
The big day. I picked Leonard and his son Samuel up at 5:45 opening morning. We headed over to the highly top secret spot off of Elmwood road. The morning started off slow, and I must be honest, I was starting to have my worries when we had not seen a deer by 6: 40 am. It was around 19 degrees, but Samuel acted like a seasoned hunter and was hanging in there like a trooper with his 12 gauge pump in hand. I wasn't sure about the range of the shotgun but Leonard assured me that his effective range was easily out past the corn pile. At 6:50 am, Leonard spotted the deer first coming from our right. Leonard let us know that the deer was approaching, so I put my binoculars on the deer and quickly observed that the deer we thought was a doe had a nice set of antlers on his head. As the deer approached, Leonard told Samuel to ready himself and do it just like he had shown him. I ranged the deer and he was 70 yards away. I didn't know how this was going to work out, but when Samuel pulled the trigger I saw the deer hunker down, so we knew he had made a good hit on the buck. We gave the deer about 11 minutes to expire and we started on the track. One problem, no tracks, no blood, no sign. I watched the deer go into a thicket, so we went to the thicket. I went high and Leonard went low. I called Samuel up to where I was and told him that maybe he should do the tracking since he had much more keen eyes than his daddy and I, not ten yards from where Samuel took up the track he spotted the deer lying in the thicket. I have never seen a more happy young man then right at that moment. Let me tell you, God sometimes blesses you when you least expect it, and this was an experience I will never forget. I consider myself blessed to be able to go out and experience God's beauty. How many times do we take that beauty for granted, just like so many more of God's blessings? The next time you are out in the woods sitting in your stand, or in a duck blind watching the sun come up, or listening for that first gobble of the year, let's take a minute to give God thanks for this precious gift we have. And if you know a young person that has never experienced the gifts we take for granted, I challenge all of you to share our wonderful gift with them. We can't waste the gifts we are given, for example God has blessed me with an amazing Tri athlete figure, dashing good looks, spectacular personality, and I am truly thankful for his blessings. My wife tells me each and every day just how lucky she is. Did I mention God has blessed me with a great imagination?
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
Psalm 42:1
God bless you all and happy hunting.
Alan Kerley "Professional hunting guide and plus size swimsuit model”
P.S. if anyone is interested in hunting with me in my highly top secret hunting spot just off of Elmwood road, let me know.
Happy hunting!
God bless you all and happy hunting.
Alan Kerley "Professional hunting guide and plus size swimsuit model”
P.S. if anyone is interested in hunting with me in my highly top secret hunting spot just off of Elmwood road, let me know.
Happy hunting!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Thanksgiving Podcast
Its the Heart of a Sportsman Thanksgiving Edition Podcast. Have a great time in the woods and around the table!
Listen Now
Listen Now
Monday, November 17, 2008
Hangin' with the Hunters - Opening Day
TOP: Charlie Steele with a nice 6-point buck
MIDDLE: Kacey Weaver with her first deer - 4-point buck
BOTTOM: Gary Gibbons - winner of the Bass Pro Gift Card
The sunset and sunrise. The cool, crisp air just after daybreak. The colorful fall leaves that carpet the forest floor. That familiar crunch of the leaves that signal an approaching deer. White oak acorns that drop like rain through the woods. That owl that hoots in the darkness. The smell of the fall woods.
If you’ve ever sat in a treestand you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, I might as well be speaking a foreign language. These are the sights and sounds and smells of deer season. More than that, these are the handiwork of God. For those of us who practice our God-given privilege to hunt, kill and eat deer each fall – such sights, sounds and smells stir our soul.
This past weekend the Heart of a Sportsman fellas spent the opening morning of gun deer season hanging out with some really cool folks whose souls get stirred this time of year. The kinda people who wear camo and love sitting in the stand in hopes of putting meat on the back of the truck. Our fellas set up at the Woodleaf BP Station and gave away hunting DVD’s, listened to hunting stories and we even made a few new friends.
Special thanks to Terry Collins of the BP for allowing us to hang out with the hunters at his place of business. We had a great time!
From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see His invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.
Romans 1:20
If you’ve ever sat in a treestand you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, I might as well be speaking a foreign language. These are the sights and sounds and smells of deer season. More than that, these are the handiwork of God. For those of us who practice our God-given privilege to hunt, kill and eat deer each fall – such sights, sounds and smells stir our soul.
This past weekend the Heart of a Sportsman fellas spent the opening morning of gun deer season hanging out with some really cool folks whose souls get stirred this time of year. The kinda people who wear camo and love sitting in the stand in hopes of putting meat on the back of the truck. Our fellas set up at the Woodleaf BP Station and gave away hunting DVD’s, listened to hunting stories and we even made a few new friends.
Special thanks to Terry Collins of the BP for allowing us to hang out with the hunters at his place of business. We had a great time!
From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see His invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.
Romans 1:20
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Seeking Mike's Deer
Seeking Mike’s Deer
KaBoooom!!!! The .45 cal muzzle-loader had seemingly found its mark on the buck. Upon impact the deer kicked so high that it nearly turned a complete summersault. During this acrobatic maneuver, the deer dug his nose deep into the ground throwing dirt into the air, before running into the brush. (The deer surely had a busted nose from the way it hit the dirt during this semi-flip). “Great shot,” we exclaimed as we congratulated Mike on his first deer ever.
The scenario had played itself out many times before from this same stand. We were hunting on my friend Mark Ridenhour’s property. We hunted from a large box stand situated in some pines next to a food plot that always seemed to draw the deer in like a magnet. Mark loves to take someone hunting for their first deer and for the last few years it has become tradition to sit a “newbie” in the stand and introduce them to the sport of deer hunting. I’ve been fortunate enough to be behind the camera to capture these moments on video. This year we were hunting with our good buddy Mike Eckmann.
After the high-fives and congratulations, and detailed replay of each second of the scenario that had just taken place we exited the stand and went to find Mike’s trophy. We were soon on a good blood trail. Just around each bend in the trail, I expected to find the buck piled up in the colorful fallen leaves. I couldn’t believe the deer had gone this far. After a couple of hours, Mark and I were beginning to feel that the congratulations had been a little premature. We were following blood, occasionally having to regroup when the blood got sparse, but always finding a place where the deer had turned and getting on “good blood” again. Unfortunately, we got to a place where the blood just disappeared. We tried everything but were unable to determine where the buck went. We desperately expanded our search until we finally had to call it quits. For anyone who hunts, you know how hard it is to call off the search, especially on a friend’s first deer. It was a long walk back to the truck, literally and figuratively. On the way back Mike made a comment that’s so very true. He said that when you’re on the blood trail you have hope that the deer is just ahead, but when you get off the blood trail, you just seem hopeless and helpless, just wandering around.
I’ve experienced all kinds of feelings while afield. Happiness, sadness, joy and sorrow. Anger and frustration. Desperation and exuberation. Deer hunting can be an emotional roller coaster sometimes, just like life. It makes me think back to that comment that Mike made while headed back to the truck. When we are following Christ, when times get hard and life throws us a curve, we press on because of the hope provide by Jesus. But, when we get off the “blood trail” so to speak, we seem hopeless and helpless and feel like giving up because of fear and uncertainty.
Many years ago the prophet Jeremiah wrote to a people who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. Jeremiah reminds us of what the Lord wants for us in the words that he wrote to those who were experiencing distressing times - “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
While searching for Mike’s buck, we literally searched with all we had and with all our heart, but came up empty. It’s comforting to know as believers that if we get off the “blood trail” in life, as we so often do, that if we seek Him with all our hearts, we WILL find Him. Jeremiah 29:11-13
KaBoooom!!!! The .45 cal muzzle-loader had seemingly found its mark on the buck. Upon impact the deer kicked so high that it nearly turned a complete summersault. During this acrobatic maneuver, the deer dug his nose deep into the ground throwing dirt into the air, before running into the brush. (The deer surely had a busted nose from the way it hit the dirt during this semi-flip). “Great shot,” we exclaimed as we congratulated Mike on his first deer ever.
The scenario had played itself out many times before from this same stand. We were hunting on my friend Mark Ridenhour’s property. We hunted from a large box stand situated in some pines next to a food plot that always seemed to draw the deer in like a magnet. Mark loves to take someone hunting for their first deer and for the last few years it has become tradition to sit a “newbie” in the stand and introduce them to the sport of deer hunting. I’ve been fortunate enough to be behind the camera to capture these moments on video. This year we were hunting with our good buddy Mike Eckmann.
After the high-fives and congratulations, and detailed replay of each second of the scenario that had just taken place we exited the stand and went to find Mike’s trophy. We were soon on a good blood trail. Just around each bend in the trail, I expected to find the buck piled up in the colorful fallen leaves. I couldn’t believe the deer had gone this far. After a couple of hours, Mark and I were beginning to feel that the congratulations had been a little premature. We were following blood, occasionally having to regroup when the blood got sparse, but always finding a place where the deer had turned and getting on “good blood” again. Unfortunately, we got to a place where the blood just disappeared. We tried everything but were unable to determine where the buck went. We desperately expanded our search until we finally had to call it quits. For anyone who hunts, you know how hard it is to call off the search, especially on a friend’s first deer. It was a long walk back to the truck, literally and figuratively. On the way back Mike made a comment that’s so very true. He said that when you’re on the blood trail you have hope that the deer is just ahead, but when you get off the blood trail, you just seem hopeless and helpless, just wandering around.
I’ve experienced all kinds of feelings while afield. Happiness, sadness, joy and sorrow. Anger and frustration. Desperation and exuberation. Deer hunting can be an emotional roller coaster sometimes, just like life. It makes me think back to that comment that Mike made while headed back to the truck. When we are following Christ, when times get hard and life throws us a curve, we press on because of the hope provide by Jesus. But, when we get off the “blood trail” so to speak, we seem hopeless and helpless and feel like giving up because of fear and uncertainty.
Many years ago the prophet Jeremiah wrote to a people who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. Jeremiah reminds us of what the Lord wants for us in the words that he wrote to those who were experiencing distressing times - “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
While searching for Mike’s buck, we literally searched with all we had and with all our heart, but came up empty. It’s comforting to know as believers that if we get off the “blood trail” in life, as we so often do, that if we seek Him with all our hearts, we WILL find Him. Jeremiah 29:11-13
POST HUNT COMMENTS: It was great to hunt with friends, whether we had meat in the truck or not. These memories will last a lifetime. Thanks to Mark and Mike for letting me hang out with ya’ll. I’ll be on the lookout for a deer with a nosebleed!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
