Provision

My passion for deer hunting came about much later than most. I had dabbled a bit in my early

thirties, but it wasn't til I moved to Adams County, Illinois, that I became hooked. My new

assignment as lead pastor at Columbus Road Church in Quincy placed me in the perfect spot,

and one of my parishioners was the one and only Mike Roux, a professional outdoor writer,

author, and guide.

We immediately connected. He began mentoring me in the ways of the woods. I was introduced

to bow hunting and began to learn about whitetail deer. It wasn't too long before I harvested my

first spike buck. You would have thought I had taken a Boone and Crocket. Mike field-dressed

the deer and instructed me to take it to a local locker. Little did I know then how venison would

become part of our family diet in the future.

I had not eaten much deer prior so I was clueless as to how it should be prepared. I was

captivated by all the sticks, jerky, and sausage. The entire deer was processed into what I call

“deer candy.” It cost me a fortune! This was what my children knew deer to taste like, but our

palate for venison would evolve over the years.

As I grew as a hunter, the bucks harvested became more and more impressive, and I have

taken more than my fair share of wall hangers over the years. Over time, my perspective has

changed primarily because of my children.

November rolled around again this year, which meant I would be in the deer woods. My passion

has grown to the point that I take a week off from work to take full advantage of the rut. I was

excited and ready for another successful year in the deer woods. November 5th has been a

good day for me over the last several years, and I knew this year would not be the exception.

I have a spot that has been very fruitful for seeing and taking big deer. It is a pinch-point

between bedding and feeding. It is the equivalent of an off-and-on ramp for an interstate

highway. The best part of this setup is that the hunter can enter and exit without being detected.

At first light, I looked to my left toward a cornfield across a county road. I noticed the silhouette

of a deer feeding at two hundred yards. The deer grazed the corn, moving inch by inch closer to

the road. I glassed the deer but could not identify whether it was a buck or doe. After fifteen

minutes, it got a bit lighter, and the deer got a lot closer.

I finally identified the deer as a buck with antlers. As I studied the direction he was feeding, I

realized this deer could be a possibility. He began to walk directly toward the road. As he came

into view, I saw he was a three-year-old nine-pointer.

This is where my children come back into the story. Since they have moved out of the house

and now pay for their own meat at the store, they have become deer meat eaters. All four of my

children anticipate their dad helping ease the burden of their meat budget throughout the year.

They come home for Thanksgiving in anticipation of taking home a cooler of deer burger to put

in their tacos, chili, spaghetti, and everything else you could mention.

As I glassed him, it became evident that he was the size of the other bucks that I had taken in

the past. Inside, I was a little disappointed. There is something about human nature that always

wants bigger and better. But once you have taken some large deer, you realize it is not always

feasible to wait for a bigger deer. Otherwise, a person could go a lifetime without harvesting

another buck.

The buck had made his way from the cornfield across the road and was now coming directly to

my stand. It was the moment of decision. He was going to come within ten yards of my stand

broadside. As he stopped in front of me, I took the shot, and down he went. It could not have

been any easier. No crazy deer store, no chase, no stalk, just God's provision.

As I began celebrating the harvest, I was overwhelmed with gratitude to God. He provided this

deer for us. My children would be very happy to hear that there would be meat for their freezers.

I felt the satisfaction of being the hunter-provider for my family, but most importantly, I was

reminded that God always supplies what we need. It may not necessarily be what we want, but

it’s always what we need.

Godspeed by Ayrton Breckenridge of the Daily Iowan

There are many things I could say about this short film but I will save it for another time. This captures the two worlds I live in very well though

Five Deer, Two Geese, Two Hens and a Tom

I have a spot. Many of us have that spot where we can count on seeing wildlife that could translate into a harvest. My particular spot in western Illinois is affectionately named the Honey Hole. I have been hunting this spot for about ten years. The craziest part of this special spot is it is only an acre. 

I have reserved this spot (which has only one tree stand) for deer hunting. I hesitated to set up at the Honey Hole because I did not want to educate the deer any more than I had to. This year I started hunting another part of the farm but I could not ignore hearing the gobbles from the Honey Hole for two mornings straight. I decided to take a chance and set up in the east corner of the field. 

On the third day, as soon as I got set up, I heard a gobbler directly behind me at fifty yards. I became excited about the potential. I hit my box call after he pitched off the roost. We began a long conversation over the next half hour but to no avail, he never came in. The fourth day was very slow due to storms in the area.

Day five he was back behind me gobbling early. We had a brief interaction but he quickly moved on to the east. I sat patiently waiting and watching. About seven thirty, five deer came across the field to get a drink of water from a small watering hole in the south corner of the Honey Hole. About the same time two Canadian geese landed about twenty yards from my decoys. Before I knew it the deer were within twenty yards from my set up. As I looked to the North, I saw a Bobcat, coming down the fence row from the north right toward me. He got within fifteen yards before busting me, scampering off quickly. 

So I have five deer, two Canadian geese, and a bobcat around the decoys but no turkey. As I pulled out that morning, I thought to myself, "What an amazing picture of God's creation for me to see and enjoy."

By Friday of that week, I had logged about eighteen hours in the Turkey woods. I did not take the week off, just went in late to the office. To say the least, I was one tired hunter. My mind began to tell me to take a couple days off and hit it again at the beginning of the next week. The conversation I had had with "that Tom" inspired me to give it a go on Saturday morning. 

Saturday morning was perfect. No wind, no weather, and the Tom gobbling from the roost again. I got set up and waited for him to pitch off the roost. Once he was on the ground we picked up where we had left off the day before. He stayed behind me for at least an hour before he went silent. I was committed to waiting him out.

Around seven thirty the five deer that I saw the morning before came across the field to the watering hole. As I watched them the two geese flew in and landed near my decoys. I could not believe my eyes. The same thing was happening two days in a row. As I surveyed the field two hens came out from the tree line that I was sitting in. I was just excited to see all of the creatures in one place at one time. 

It wasn't two minutes before he joined the hens in the field. He was at full strut. I pulled out my Strut Li'l Deuce slate call and began to purr to get his full attention. He was on a rope to my set up which is a submissive hen, a jake, and two feeding hens. He walked right to the jake. He was not having it! He was on the ground moments later. This guy had a nine-inch beard and three-quarter-inch spurs, weighing twenty-one pounds. 

I texted Kevin the land owner and told him where I took the Tom. He texted back, "The Honey Hole does not disappoint." Boy was he right about that. 

By the way, the geese never left the field. As I pulled out and drove away, they were there. 

How to Look Ahead

 2023 has been a year for me to step back and seek a little direction for the journey ahead. A lot of things have happened over the last twelve months for me to take a pause to look around a bit. I am fifty-eight years old and have been doing some of the same things in the same spot for many years. 

Birthplace Home 

Back in May, Lisa and I spent a day traveling back to my birthplace. I showed her where I went to elementary school, drove around telling stories about my childhood, and visited my first house. The house looked a lot smaller than I remembered. That day was a time to reflect not only where I was raised but how I was raised. Going back to my roots helps put a perspective on where I am and what the future might hold. 

I was raised in a home where there was much love and nurture. My parents encouraged me to pursue my goals and dreams. They made it possible for me to get where I am today. My interests, passions, and hobbies were all birthed at a very early age. It is important to remember where you came from to be fully present where you are.

First House Purchase

Lisa and I were able to travel to Ohio in June for a family reunion. It was a time to catch up with family members that we have not been able to connect with regularly. As a part of the trip, we took time to visit some spots that reminded us about the steps in the journey, the first coaching assignment, the first pastorate, the first home purchase, and all the memories that go along with it. For the most part, it was good to look back. Some of my memories reminded me of failure, frustration, and loss. It can be difficult to look back, especially when there are things that you want to forget. 

Looking back not only reminds us where we have come from but also is a reminder not to make the same mistakes again. Boy, there were decisions and actions that I would love to have a do-over on but we all know that is not how life works. It is important to look back so that if there are mistakes made in the past, we will not make the same decisions again. 

The Present Crib

Living in the moment is probably the hardest thing for people to remember to do. Being fully present is very difficult. It is a tricky balance to know where you came from, be fully present, and know where you are going. One of the keys to success is to regularly review. 

This takes place when you create a series of goals. I like to make a list of the three most important things that I must do each day. I usually make that list before I go to sleep each night.  Knowing what you are doing tomorrow in terms of priority is critical. I also set annual goals I set is yearly goals. I have been doing this for the last twenty-three years. The old saying comes into play, if you aim for nothing, you will hit it every time. I usually break my goals into four major categories; personal, family, ministry, and interests. Under each category, I write down specific, measurable goals to work toward over the entire year. This helps me to be fully present with the opportunities and responsibilities entrusted to me. 

The last set of goals is a one to three-year plan. Looking ahead is not an easy thing but it can provide clarity and direction. I have a saying that I use often, (not sure where I got it from) "Everything you need to see is right in front of you." Ask yourself, what do I think will happen over the next few years? I am talking about major events like; births, college, marriage, home purchases, downsizing, retirement, etc. You can be certain that the future will be different than the present. Gathering all the information around you as you look into the future is important. This will provide enough information to make intelligent goals and objectives moving forward. 

For Lisa and I, we are only nine years away from retirement.  She can retire as an educator next year and we do not own a home. Information like this points us in a direction. It isn't all we need to know but one cannot turn a blind eye to the future. For you, it may be that your children have entered high school or you are anticipating starting a family. Just look ahead and see the obvious. Many people are so into the day-to-day that they forget about looking forward. 

As we enter a new year, it is good to set new goals, pursue dreams, and prioritize your life. I have found the best way to look forward is to look at where you came from and realize where you are. 

What Might Be