Close Encounters

In looking back on my outdoor adventures of the past year, one thing that stands out to me is the number of close encounters with creation that I was able to experience. I think back to early in the year crow hunting, and how several 'kamikaze' crows tried to get in the blind with my dad and me before we ended their raid within a few yards of our setup. I vividly recall one morning in the turkey woods a couple months later where 10 or more gobblers were sounding off all around my buddy and me at first light, and two strutters wound up coming in within ten yards of us. Even after smoking one of them, the other continued to stay right there by us, gobbling, strutting and stomping on his expired companion. I would be remiss if I failed to mention being just across the transom from white marlin that had just been tussled to the side of the Jesus Freak. And on those same offshore ventures videotaping bottlenose dolphins within feet of me on the bow as they showed off for the camera and even blew water up in my face! And then this fall, when that mature eight-pointer came into my setup at close range and I was able to keep my wits about me long enough to put him down. I'm not sure I can top how close I have been able to get to some of God's most awesome creations!

Psalm 145:18 (NASB)
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

Learning the Fundamentals

Over Memorial Day, my wife, kids and I had the opportunity to spend a few days with my wife's sister and her family near Lynchburg. Among the many fun things that we did together over those few days was go fishing in a farm pond across the road from their home. It served as a chance to get back to basics, simply fishing with a night crawler and a bobber, and reaping the rewards of an unspoiled population of panfish. What was most rewarding was the opportunity to begin teaching and instructing our kids the fundamentals of fishing - how to bait their hooks, cast their lines, be patient in waiting for the fish to take the bait, and keep their rods positioned in retrieving the fish while keeping slack out of the line and avoiding snags in the process.

Luke 5:3-11 (NASB)
And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.