A little excited about the upcoming deer season – Outdoor Truths

I’m getting a little excited about the upcoming deer season. After last year, I feel like I need to redeem myself. My friends are going to take my hunter card if I don’t get in the woods more. So, I’m making plans now.

I’m looking forward to being perched above my day to day life, with thoughts of a racing heartbeat that doesn’t come from stress. As of late, I’ve been getting a field ready so I can plant a fall crop. The smell of dirt is like inhaling anti-anxiety medicine. And the seat of my tractor is my couch for therapy. My strength and determination return after every encouraging pass. Trail cameras are helping me not only record the possibilities, but they’re revealing the past that I have missed so much.

Hunting is not for everyone. I understand that, and I try to respect the opinion of others. As a follower of Christ, I believe I am supposed to. But creation is complex. It not only involves plants, trees, lakes, rivers, and oceans, it involves other life – living, breathing life. As the steward of creation, I have the responsibility of managing every resource this earth provides. And no matter what you might think, our resources are mostly non-renewable. They are here, and then they are gone.

The earth itself is slowly burning all its non-renewable energy. It is not eternal as some thought in days past. It was created by someone who is. All of this to say, I believe there truly is a balancing act for those of us who are both Christians and hunters. While we understand man is God’s most prized creation, we also must understand we were created to be his most responsible one and the only ones who will answer for the rest of what he has made.

Therefore, as I manipulate the land to produce my desired outcome or as I take the life of an animal for food or for management, or as I use nature as my therapy, I will be careful to not only manage this God-given resource, but protect it, and remember to use it for its main purpose – to reveal the invisible qualities, the divine nature and the eternal power of God, to others.

Gary Miller
gary@outdoortruths.org

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_{DISCLAIMER: The views, beliefs and opinions expressed in this article, Outdoor Truths, are those of Gary Miller and do not necessarily reflect the views, beliefs or opinions of Courageous Christian Father. Outdoor Truth’s is a syndicated article published in various newspaper and online sources and has been used on Courageous Christian Father with permission from Gary Miller. #OutdoorTruths}

About the Author

Gary Miller

Gary began pursuing his desire to write a newspaper column to hunters and fishermen that would lead them to contemplate their relationship with their Creator. The column was picked up by two newspapers. After these many years now, it covers much of the country not only through several newspapers but also through regional magazines and online. His writing provided opportunities to speak to these same hunters and fishermen at events such as Beast Feasts. The results were men giving their lives to Christ.
Even though he was not raised in a hunting or fishing home, Gary has followed his heart to the water and woods since he was a child. What started on the banks of the local canal catching carp, now extends to every part of his life as he aims outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen toward Christ.

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