October ushers in many opportunities to hunt game with archery deer season arriving on Saturday, while bear will come in on the 18th. In addition, many hunters head west this month in search of even bigger game like the regal elk! These western hunters can teach us a bit about our journey through life.
There are several different ways for hunters to enjoy a western hunt depending on their skills, time, and pocketbook. The most inexpensive approach is a self-guided experience camping out and hunting on public land such as National Forest or Bureau of Land Management units. Although it costs less, it also requires hiking and/or horses and sacrifices many conveniences such as heat and indoor plumbing. These hunters also need to find their own hunting locations which may limit their success considerably since they are unfamiliar with the area.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is a fully guided hunt in which the hunter is housed in a comfy lodge and enjoys the benefits of an experienced chef as well as wi-fi and heated quarters. These hunts also include trained guides that know the territory as well as the elk’s habits and movements and can maximize opportunities for success. The more expensive of these hunts are one-guide-per-hunter and on private land that is off-limits to other hunters.
Although some purists like to rough it, this second type of hunt is preferred by many due to its comfort and odds of harvesting a nice bull. If I save enough pennies, perhaps I’ll be able to enjoy one of these one day. In the meantime, these options remind me of various ways to conduct our lives.
Some individuals resist all help from anyone else. They are determined to live life on their own terms and cut their own swath. They are willing to work hard and endure difficulty but often do so with little success since there is no cooperation and little interaction with others. Having never lived before and rejecting the advice and help from older folks who have, puts one at a significant disadvantage that could easily result in minimal success at best or getting lost and perishing at worst.
Thankfully, there is another option. God has not only created the terrain of life; He also offers a personal Guide for all who are willing to receive His help. When we accept His Son Jesus as our Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit takes up residence within our souls and begins His holy work of guiding us through life. Since He too is God, He has infinite wisdom, knowledge, and insight that greatly enhances our ability to live in a godly and obedient manner which ought to be our ultimate quest. While such a life may not always appear successful from a worldly viewpoint, its advantages will become abundantly clear in eternity.
Since this Guide wants our best, He won’t put us in situations that would jeopardize our spiritual health. Because He knows the territory and the desired goal infinitely better than we do, He will lead us in paths of blessing and joy that are selected specifically for us. He knows the difference between phony advice from online influencers and what actually works in the woods of our lives.
Like a professional hunting guide, He tailors our training as well as our daily treks to our abilities and aptitudes, always pushing us to do a little more. He is personal and knows our potential as well as our limitations and He genuinely wants our spiritual best. He provides us with written instructions as well in His Guidebook, the Bible, and expects us to participate in His Guide Agency, the Church. Such arrangements maximize our experience and bring lasting joy to our souls.
As hunters head west again this fall, may they remind us to secure the best life-Guide available by accepting Jesus as our Savior and inviting His Spirit to lead us. Blessings, George