My deer season is over. As I write, I have one more afternoon before I wrap it up for the year. Sure, there are still opportunities in the south, but right now I need my early mornings for work. I love that time of day. To say I’m an early riser would probably be an understatement for most people. I’m not bragging about it. I’m just saying while some people can burn the midnight oil, and get their best work in at that time, I’m the one that has to beat the sunup by several hours. The hours before eight o’clock are monumental for me when it comes to what I get accomplished the rest of the day. And since I like to ride bikes, I’m sometimes able to take those early afternoons and take in a few miles before most people are getting off work. In some ways, hunting season steals that from me – or at least causes me to make difficult choices. If I hunt, my workday starts later, and that makes me feel rushed. But if I don’t hunt, I have nothing to write to you about. I wish I could make hunting a part of my work! Well, I actually do You see, I’ve been doing this little article for over 20 years. It is a part of a larger ministry that I do that involves hunters and fishermen. When I hunt or fish, I am not only able to find truths for writing, but I’m able to identify with the ones that I write or speak to. If I quit doing those things, it wouldn’t take long before I would be out of touch with what’s going on. It wouldn’t be long before I would not be able to identify with the emotions and experiences those that I want to reach go through. I could say I know. I could read about it. I could even create some venue for hunters to live in, but I could not really identify with all the ups, downs, successes, failures, and near-misses outdoorsmen go through. To truly identify is not to only sympathize, but it is to empathize. And what is better than to imagine that you are walking in the shoes of someone else, is to actually lace up your boots in the same way and at the same time, as they do. It is to be them, to take on their life, and to live what they live. And when I have done that, I am able to go to them in their weakest and darkest hour, and not be concerned about saying the right words or acting a certain way. I can simply arrive, put a hand on a back, and say “I know.” Because they know you too have been where they are now.
And now you know why God sent Jesus into the world.
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.