OUTDOOR TRUTHS

 I've been on one of those long road trips; nearly fourteen days away from home. The first few days were with my family. The remaining was with a friend. We had an appointment with a few loud-mouthed gobblers. And while one became meat for my turkey and dumplings, the battle was mostly won by the turkeys. But they don't fight fair!
 Well it really wasn't the bird's way of fighting that hindered us, it was ours. While most hunters chase after the toms, our modus operandi was to try to get the action on video, so we waited and watched from a ground blind. Many times we were forced to watch the turkeys go out of sight knowing we could cut them off if we just didn't have that camera. Other times, a gunshot simply could not be taken because the gobbler was not in view of the lens. The added eye made our hunting that much more difficult, but it was a price we were willing to pay for the value of having the hunt on film. And when the year is over, we will have had our share of video success.
 In life, our value system determines how we fight as well. It really determines how we do everything. And as bad as we want to resort to the ways of others at times, our mind and heart is called back to the reason why we are here.
 For a Christian, we are told that while we live in this world, we are not to live our lives by the same value system as the world does. That doesn't mean that we don't value some of the same things as the world; only that they are prioritized differently and pursued differently as well. It's sort of like my turkey story; while the world may be chasing that tom, I must wait on him to come to me. In this case, we both have the same desire, but our method is different. Mine may be more difficult at times, but the additional blessing of film footage will be worth it. And in my pursuit of the good things of life, while mine may be more difficult at times as well, the blessings that come with it make up for the difference.
 The greatest blessing about having the correct Christian perspective when it comes to things we value is this; I am not responsible for their attainment. God is. So while the world is dependant on themselves and others, a Christian is ultimately dependant on God. Again, the desire may still be the same, but the pursuit is different.
 Why is this better you ask. It is better because when you are in a blind, there's no stress to produce and no energy expended on the pursuit. It is a calm wait that is based on the surety of God's provision, made available God's way.

Gary Miller
gary@outdoortruths.org