The turkeys are gobbling the woods down. Their call is one of the most recognizable in all of nature. Whether one is a turkey hunter or not, everyone knows this familiar sound. And even though a tom turkey will gobble the entire year, he is especially vocal during the spring mating season. The turkey is an amazing bird. Just a few years ago there were so few, most hunters turned into fishermen during the spring. Now, the turkey is in every state except Alaska. And not only are they surviving, they are thriving. The reintroduction of the turkey has been a great success story for fish and game commissions all over the country. There has been a concerted effort between them, some conservation groups like the NWTF, and the turkey themselves. Yes, the turkey has really done its part in this process as well. They have adapted. It seems no matter what type of terrain the turkey is placed in, it adapts. It seems to have the ability to accept its environment and make it its own. It doesn’t care if it is placed in the mountains or the flatlands, in the cold temperature or hot. It is going to not only endure its situation; it is going to enjoy it.
That’s how I want to be as a follower of Christ. I want to be an “enjoying” Christian and not just an “enduring” one. And it’s really not up to anyone or anything but me. All my life, my circumstances have changed. I have noticed as I have gotten older that nothing stays the same. It seems just as I get a grasp on some new thing, it is replaced by a newer thing. I could grumble, complain, long for the good ole days, refuse to change, and endure the rest of my life as a cantankerous old man. Or I can choose to relish the opportunity to learn, be thankful for the opportunity to live in this new arena, adapt, and enjoy every minute I am blessed to be here. That is an easy decision for me. I hope it will be for you. But if you choose the former, don’t be surprised if I offer you a kind word of hello, and then promptly back away. I’m not going to stay around long. I’d much rather hang with a flock of turkeys that are enjoying life, than stay around a grumbling group of people that are not.
Gary Miller
gary@outdoortruths.org
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for over 21 years. He has also
written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son
devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for
churches and associations.