Deer Hunting

The avid deer hunter is up well before dawn, they dress as warm as they can and quietly walk out to their deer stand (where they arrive likely 2 hours before sunrise).  This year, though I was wide awake by 4 am, I just couldn't persuade myself to go out in the frigid cold! I would freeze and eagerly  return home before I could legally shoot anything!
Around 5:30 am I dressed as warm as I could, donning multiple coats and wearing the required blaze orange jacket and hat. I packed my hand and feet warmers and a bit of trail mix (to help keep me warm while I sat out there--you see I've become a bit of a wimp since living in TZ!).  A sense of  anticipation filled me as I gathered all my gear.

You see, hunting has always been a special time, it used to be the one thing that was just Dad and I. We used to get up and go sit in the tree stand together. Dad built a special deer stand just for me that was my own little hide-a-way.  After a few years, the oldest of my younger brothers joined us and a few years later the next brother.  Now my 'baby' brother has also joined the ranks.

This year, Dad didn't hunt.  I went out with two of my three brothers.  As I walked out to the tree stand (when it was nearly dawn!) I was again taken aback at the beauty surrounding me.  What a great creator we have! Wide open spaces, all kinds of vegetation, beautiful trees.  My excitement escalated.

I reached the far edge of the field and climbed up into my deer-stand.  I sat down and was overcome with praise and worship songs and Bible verses that I have stored in my heart. What an honor it is that I can sit here for hours and just take in all that God has given us!

As I continued to sit and praise Jesus (I mean actively hunt ;) I started making parallels in my mind with deer hunting and our walk as Christians.

In deer hunting one of the most important skills is to sit QUIETLY  and wait.  Taking time to be patient.  In our walk with Christ, we need to take time to sit and wait, and to be patient, to listen.  If we are busy making noise and moving around we will not see a deer; likewise,  if we are active all the time and making our own noise we won't hear Christ. While we wait, many an opportunity comes along.  We see all the small creatures and blessings God has given us to enjoy and eventually our 'prize' comes along.  In our Christian walk, sometimes we jump too hastily and miss a bigger blessing that God wants to send our way.  It's our job to prayerfully discern what comes before us and ask God to give us clarity.

Though I didn't spend as much time in the deer-stand this year; and though I wasn't actively hunting.  God blessed me with many a lesson in the deer-stand.  He revealed more of His glory as I sat in awe of the tiny bit of who He is that I can grasp.