Lessons from the Woods ... #3 of 3

Today's journal is borrowed from one of my favorite devotionals: A Look at Life from a Deer Stand, by Steve Chapman. It is called ...

The Chase

It was about 9 AM on a late November morning. I was discouraged and already planning my departure from the stand. That's when I heard the crashing noise. Deer (more than one) were headed my way. I readied myself by raising my rifle. There was doe in full run. And behind her, a buck ... in hot pursuit.

I aimed at the buck. I yelped, hoping to stop him. He didn't even hesitate. I took a shot. I missed. And not only did I miss, but neither deer slowed in stride. "I missed? How could I have missed?" The deer bounded off. They totally ignored me!

My confusion was interrupted in just a moment when I realized they had turned and were once more coming my way. I couldn't believe it! It occurred to me that the old buck probably had no idea I was even there, but something told me that doe might have known! In fact, I kind of think I heard a female voice saying, "Shoot him! Shoot him!" (Not really).

I aimed. I fired. I missed. I could not believe I missed.

The deer ran off again, and I was left only with my disappointment.

That encounter got me to thinking. The Whitetail buck is normally a very cautious animal. He acts on instinct and high self-preservation-caution. His big ears hear the slightest sound of warning. His nose sniffs the air for every scent of trouble. All that is necessary for his survival is built into the very DNA of the animal.

But all of that was cast aside for the chase.

The "rut" of a deer's mating season, lasts only about four or five weeks of the year and it is not all that unusual for the deer to act crazy in those weeks. The bottom line is that while in "rut", a buck sure makes an easy target of himself.

That's true for deer.

That's true for people.

Are you acting the fool?

Pray today that the Lord would restore your instincts that He instilled in you, for your own good. Pray that God would put people in your life who would speak truth to you, when you are no longer listening.

Pray.