Outdoor Truths

If you plan on hunting deer seriously, there will come a time when you will have to plan on spending all day in the tree stand. I don’t usually do that in my home area, but when I travel to the Midwest, (which is just about every year) I always prepare to stay in my tree stand the entire day for several days. That means confi ning myself to about 12 square feet for about 12 straight hours. Since I go there with the hopes of killing a big deer, I need to give myself the best chance possible and being there during every daylight hour does that. The preparation is as important mentally as it is physically. But physically it means that I must pack enough food and water and make arrangements for when nature calls. It also means reading material is a must and if I have cell signal, I can surf the internet which makes the time pass so much quicker. Another reason staying in the tree stand is important is because the longer I’m in the stand, the less my scent is lingering on the ground. Let me explain. As deer hunters know, when we walk into the woods we leave a scent and it stays there even after we have climbed up a tree. But as time passes the scent evaporates leaving us in the stand without being as easily detected. That’s why the deer are less likely to smell us after we have been in the tree for a few hours than only for a few minutes. The principle is, if enough time passes, what was easily sensed becomes undetectable. This same principle applies to my spiritual life. If enough time passes, what was once easily sensed will become undetectable. For instance, if enough time passes, the desire to be with other believers during a weekend gathering will soon go away. Another example is, if enough time passes, the desire to learn more about God, will no longer have the same pull on your life. These spiritually healthy desires will become undetectable. But does this mean there will not be a price to pay? I think not. Because just as my deer can no longer detect the danger of the hunter, you and I will no longer be able to detect the dangers that await us. And not only that, but we will also become calloused and insensitive to the needs of others. Is there an area in your spiritual life that once provided a much needed tug? Has time caused that tug to go unnoticed? The need is still there. The benefi ts it once provided are still useful. Ask God today to provide it one more time and when He does, don’t let it go unnoticed.

gary@outdoortruths.org ~ www.outdoortruths.org