Right Around the Corner

I pray you are enjoying the prep for both this season of hunting and all the seasons of life.

The last time I took time to put thoughts into words on this site, our fishing tournament season was freshly in the rear-view mirror. I blinked and breathed a time or two and low and behold here we are with a new hunting season lurking right around the corner. How did that happen? Where did the time go? I’m not exactly sure, but it all came about quickly! I’m usually a methodical planner when it comes to the prep work necessary for hunting season, but this year I am behind. Behind on scouting. Behind on trimming. Behind on camera intel. Behind, behind, behind. And being so behind, I’m wondering what lies around the corner in all these endeavors.

Scouting – Usually I have a pretty good idea by now of which areas deer are concentrated in, where their favored food sources are, and which areas they’re using to stay out of sight. But this year, I’m not up to speed on this. On one hand, it’s exciting and I feel like I did as a kid when Dad took me hunting. I didn’t know anything other than what he told me, and I just took his word on where I needed to be and what I could expect the deer to do. Here at crunch time I’m realizing I’ll have to trust my instincts this year – instincts that were developed and taught by my Dad and Uncles over the years of my growing up. It’s also making me thankful that in the bigger scheme of life, I’m not relegated to trusting my instincts. I have a Heavenly Father that I can trust in with all my heart and know that He will direct my paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). If I’ll do my scouting and find the sign in the Word, I’ll have divine direction for whatever lies right around the corner. Thank God for that!

Trimming – I can only imagine how many trees have fallen across trails and shooting lanes. How much brush has grown up in places that used to be clean. How many limbs that once were good for cover have now grown into sure ’nuff arrow deflectors. Without a doubt, when I make my way to the woods, there’s going to be some trimming to do. You know, if we get behind in our close walk with the Lord as I have with my hunting prep this year, we’ll find spiritual brush and limbs hindering us as well. What once was a clear path can get cluttered with obstacles, and lanes that once offered smooth sailing to the prize can become obstructed by uninvited intruders. This is simply a part of the game when it comes to hunting, but it doesn’t have to be so in life. Keeping Jesus and His Word as priority in life serves as the best machete and bushhog to keep spiritual brush at bay. May we be reminded to practice the principle of Matthew 6:33 and “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…” so no matter what’s right around the corner, we’ll be equipped to deal with it victoriously.

Cameras – I have very little camera intel going into this season. My usual 6 or 8 cameras working to gather information for me have been safe in storage until now. I wonder if “Big Red” and “Blondie” and “Right Wing” are still out and about in my area or if they found greener pastures. Not sure. But I wonder. Thankfully, because of this neat thing the Lord equipped us with called “memory”, I have a built-in trail camera that helps me to see my life in snapshots as days and seasons go by. I get to see if I’m growing like “Big Red” has over the past three years. I get to see areas I need to improve in. I get to see the true picture of my walk with the Lord. I’m thankful that He has given me the trail camera system to observe progress and help me to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18) that I might be both blessed and a blessing in whatever lies right around the corner.

Whether you are behind like me, way ahead of the game, or right on schedule, we’re all going to encounter things unexpectedly right around the corner. These around-the-corner experiences don’t have to derail us though. Put in the scouting time. Do the hard ongoing work of trimming. And use that trail camera system God gave you. They’ll all help prepare us for whatever lies in wait right around the corner. I pray you are enjoying the prep for both this season of hunting and all the seasons of life. Don’t quit! And one of these days when we’re taking a water break from the trim work on one of life’s shooting lanes, we’ll talk it over and brag about our God that protected us from all those things that were awaiting us right around the corner! Till then, I’ll be anticipating our next meeting…In the Great Outdoors!