OUTDOOR TRUTHS

 Tennessee turkey season opened this week and I spent opening morning looking for a tom with my son. The night before, I had tried to roost a bird, but none wanted to give up their whereabouts, so we went from hill to holler searching for a responsive gobbler. We did manage to call in some hens, but the toms stayed just out of distance. We came home about mid morning without anything to show for our efforts.
 My son left to go do whatever twenty-two year olds do, and I did what most men my age does after a morning hunt....... I ate and took a nap...... Now what was you thinking? Fruit Loopsand cartoons? Well, after my nap I was rejuvenated and I began to think about all of those birds that were up on my farm just waiting to give their life to provide a good meal for my family. I decided to go back.
By now it was around 1:00 and the wind was blowing hard without interruption. My plans were to locate some birds by sight and use the wind to mask my movement as I stalked to within my shotgun's range. It happened almost as I planned. I spotted a small flock and proceeded to crawl, slither, roll, and scoot until I got as close as I knew I could get without being seen. I estimated the range to be about 60 yards. I knew this would be a long shot, but I felt comfortable because I would be shooting in a prone position.
The part that didn't go as planned involved me missing the bird. What I thought was 60 yards turned out to be about 75. All of that work, for nothing. Was I disappointed? Only slightly, because the stalk was the real adventure. I never imagined I could get that close to all of those turkeys in the middle of an open field. It was really fun. Oh, by the way, I killed a nice gobbler about an hour later. But that story isn't near as exciting.
Sometimes in my life I want to forgo the process and get straight to the prize. I'm not interested in the journey and I'm most assuredly not interested in waiting. All of this seems of no value. The truth however, is God gets greater accomplishments from our life during the process then He does from simply giving us what we want or placing us where He wants us to be. While we think the journey is unnecessary, He thinks the journey is the real prize. And when WE start thinking that way, the joys we have will last a whole lot longer.

Gary Miller
gary@outdoortruths.org