I am a hunter. Not just a hunter. I am THE hunter. I am paid, quite well I may add, to hunt. If someone needs to get rid of something, I am the person they call.
It’s a job. I have no emotions about killing another living thing. Many times I am saving many lives by killing a wild beast. A grizzly stalking hikers. A polar bear coming to close to town. A wolf or coyote attacking livestock. A rabid raccoon, a venomous snake, you get the idea.
I have been asked to hunt another human but I cannot go there.
November 3rd. The day that would change my life. I received a call from a farmer saying some wild creature was destroying his livestock. He explained that the creature had a growl he had never heard before. There were nights where he thought he heard more than one. The hairs on his neck would stand up just recalling what they sounded like. Their appetites were endless.
I did all the necessary prep work. I tracked over the land looking for signs of where the creature could be living. I set traps. I found nothing. Not one single sign of where it could be. But the murder of the livestock continued.
I have never failed in my hunts and I was not going to fail this time.
November 6th. It was a full moon and it was the first time I caught a glimpse of the creature. It was not a site I would soon forget. In all my years of hunting, I had never seen anything like it. I can’t even really explain it. Sort of like Bigfoot but… I don’t know. Half gorilla, half bear, half man. Yes, I know three halves don’t make a whole, but like I said, I can’t describe it, it was faster than a cheetah, stronger than an ox, claws like Wolverine.
For the first time in my life, I was scared of something I was hunting. My mouth was dry, my palms sweating, my knees shook. I fired my rifle and for the first time in my life, I missed. It looked my direction and faster than I could blink, it was gone.
Why I continued to hunt this creature I can not say. Maybe it was my pride. Maybe it was ignorance. I start a job I finish it. That was it.
November 10th. Four days had passed and there was no sign of it. Maybe the shot I fired scared it off. I doubted that was the case.
I was right.
I was well hidden in the bushes. I smelled it before I saw it. Then it surfaced about thirty feet from me. I pulled the slide back to chamber the bullet, I put my finger on the trigger, and …The farmer was right, there was more than one. I didn’t even hear the one that snuck up on me. I went flying through the air.
I landed hard on my back. I scrambled trying to get to my feet, to get my bearings. I couldn’t find my gun. It knocked me to the ground again. I was on my stomach and I knew right then and there I was going to die.
I rolled over and it was standing over me. I saw the hatred in its eyes. It saw the fright in mine. It let out a scream that caused my blood to curdle. Then the other creature was there. It was a bit smaller than the one attacking me so I assumed it was the female. It was then I saw the third creature. Much smaller than the other two. I could only think it had to be their child. I could only think these creatures were going to be the last thing I saw in this life.
The female grunted something to the male and the males posture changed. A softness came to his eyes. I looked into the females eyes and saw not hate, but compassion. I saw love in her eyes. Then I looked into the males eyes and saw not only strength but I saw love also.
Then the three of them left.
Why they let me live I had no idea. Maybe they thought I would not taste good. Maybe they could see something in my heart that I did not know was there. Maybe it was for me to be able to tell this story.
All I know was in that moment I saw animals in a different light. I saw that the male was only protecting his family. I saw that they were no different than you and me. I saw that they had emotions, feelings, and intelligence just like you and me.
Maybe even more than we do.
In that moment those creatures changed my entire life. Not only did I see all creatures in a new light, I also saw all humans in a new light. There were no more differences between races or genders. No differences in wealthy or poor. No differences in the strong or weak. I realized all humans were the same. All equal. We are all one. We are all in the same family.
I can never thank those creatures enough for how they changed my life.
Maybe them letting me live to tell my story will change your life. Maybe you will look past the outside and search for what’s inside someone.
When I first started this I was thinking it would be about old friends or old relationship, like Adele’s Someone Like You song. Then I heard RaeLynn’s Love Triangle and it went a different direction. Hope you like. Dads, be there for you kids, no matter what. They need you in their life. The statistics of how children turn out without a father in their lives are not good. Be there. Be thankful for them. Love them. Be thankful for forgiveness. One of the most important things you can do as a dad is to love their mom. Show them what a real man and a real father and a real stick it out, work it out relationship should look like.
When I left it wasn’t your choice
It must be strange to hear my voice
After all these years
After you cried a million tears
“I’m sorry I was wrong.”
“I should never have left you for so long.”
“I’m sorry I decided to leave.”
“I know that must be hard for you to believe.”
“I felt like there was no other way.”
“When I packed my bags and left that day.”
“Your mom has raised you well.”
“You’re beautiful inside and out I can tell.”
I could also tell I had scarred her
Her first question, “Why didn’t you try harder?”
“Wasn’t I worth trying?”
“Do you know how many nights I spent crying?”
“I promise daddy, I could’ve been better!”
“Don’t you think I was worth one call, one letter?”
“I know you and mom had your troubles
But why did you keep me outside your bubble?”
“Do you know many nights I yelled into my pillow at you?”
“Do you know how many days I wondered what did I do?”
I just stared at her, how could I cut her out of my life?
There was nothing I could say, she was right
She had so many questions that hurt me so
But nothing like the pain I caused her I know
I cried my first tear
I let go of all my fears
All the times I could’ve
All the times I should’ve
I let them all go, left the past in the past
Here she was in front of me at last
I asked, “Will you ever forgive me?”
“I did dad, a long time ago can’t you see?”
“I prayed for you!”
“I waited for you!”
“I did have so much anger and hate
But God taught me that love was the only way.”
“As hard as it was I slowly learned to forgive
So that I could learn to live.”
“I opened up the walls surrounding my heart.”
“Here I am dad, willing to give us another start!”
I lost it all, I crumbled in her arms
I promised her I would never again harm
If God could help us reunite
Then I knew I had to give Him my life
Thank you for mended relationships
Thank you God for fixing this
Never again will something come in between
I will spend the rest of my life letting her know how much she means
Love Triangle by Raelynn-
Perfect Story by Idina Menzel –
Every Other Weekend by Kenny Chesney and Reba McEntire-
Sammy wasn’t like the other squirrels. While they were busy gathering nuts and seeds for the winter, Sammy would be exploring. Sammy liked traveling around the city and getting life experiences.
Sammy didn’t save for the future. Sammy lived in the here and now. Sammy thought all the other squirrels were missing out on life. Sammy didn’t understand why they worked all day storing nuts and seeds.
(I know what you are thinking. That you don’t have to read any further because Sammy is going to die because he isn’t prepared for winter. However that is an old story and this is a story for a new generation.)
Sammy traveled throughout the city and learned to not be afraid of people. Many people, especially the little ones, thought Sammy was cute and they fed him their food. Sammy ate french fries and potato chips. Sammy ate pizza and hamburgers. Sammy ate chicken fingers and tacos. Sammy loved human food.
It wasn’t long before Sammy was packing on the pounds. It wasn’t long before Sammy couldn’t travel as far as he once did. Sammy missed parts of the city but he was just too tired to go very far.
Winter was getting close and all the other squirrels were finishing storing all the food they had worked all fall to get. Sammy watched them from a distance. Sammy was miserable. All the human fast food was making him sick but he was so addicted to it. Sammy couldn’t stop eating it. The more he ate it, the more he didn’t feel like doing anything at all.
Some of Sammy’s friends finally stepped in and said he had to change his ways or he would not make it through the winter. Sammy asked them how. They said Sammy, you just have to start. Put one foot in front of the other. Then tomorrow you take a few more steps than today. Walk away from the bad choices of yesterday and walk into the better choices of tomorrow. You can do it Sammy and we will help you.
Sammy and his friends started walking each day. They shared their good food with him and Sammy made better choices. Sammy started to lose the weight and Sammy started to explore the city again. Sammy said no to the human food he was offered and Sammy started storing his own food for winter. Sammy’s friends even let him borrow some of their food and he made it through the winter.
Sammy lived a long and fruitful life. Sammy didn’t let his bad choices of yesterday rob him of his future. Sammy appreciated his friends and Sammy continued to make good choices. Most of all Sammy appreciated his friends and his life.
He stood in front of us. We had to number in the thousands but he did not seem nervous. He was not an imposing man but spoke with authority. I was hanging on every word he said.
“Today you have taken the first step in your journey. You will never take another journey more important than this. I must commend you being brave, for risking everything to be here today. There are many in this world that will never take this step.”
“I will tell you that this journey will not be easy, and that my friends is an understatement. You will be asked to do things you did not think you were capable of doing. You will be asked to make the impossible possible. Many times you will think your journey is over when it has just begun. Many times you will be asked to do things you don’t want to do.”
See what I mean. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. If I wasn’t sitting on the floor I would’ve been on the edge of my seat.
“Sometimes you will wonder if it is all worth it. Sometimes you will have doubts. You will doubt yourself, you will doubt my instructions. Sometimes you will forget my instructions and many of you will. You will go your own way. You will not want to listen to my voice. Keep listening anyway. ”
“Today, some of you will be asked to go by boat. You will have rough seas. You will have calm waters. Keep your guard up. Out of those calm waters a storm can rise. You will ask why but do not doubt and do not be afraid. Stay strong in my directions, stay on course, the waters will calm again. You will face many beasts out on the waters. Some will look dangerous and they are. Some will look harmless but they are the most dangerous. Some will look dangerous but they will help you. You may ask how will you know your enemies from your friends? Keep your eyes on the truth that I will give you and you will know.”
I have to be honest and say at this point my enthusiasm was starting to wain. I told myself I hope I don’t get picked to go on the boat.
He continued, “some of you will be asked to travel by plane. You will board the plane and not know where your destination will be. You will have turbulence. The engines may fail. I tell you do not fear. You will not die. Believe in my instructions and you will never die. When you land at your destination you may see horrors you have never seen before. Stay strong. I will guide you on what you need to do. You will see things that you won’t be able to forget. Things you would never see from where you are leaving. That is okay, but do not be anxious about them. Be grateful for what you have seen.”
“Some of you will travel by foot. You will have a long journey but stay strong. Keep my words in your heart. You will see many things along you way. Some will be great, others will be horrible. I will put people in strategic places along your journey to help you. They will feed you, clothe you, encourage you, and strengthen you. You will meet people along your way that will pretend to be my helpers. They are not. Listen to their words closely. They will not align with mine. Listen closely, as I have said before, my voice will guide you.”
Well as enthusiastic as I had been, I can honestly say it was gone. I know I didn’t want to go by boat, plane, or by foot at this point. Excuse me sir, are there any other options? Yet, something was still telling me to go.
“You will meet people along your way that you will wish will always be in your life. They may die, they may just simply be on a different path than you are on. Do not be dismayed. Remember the people I put in your life may only be there to help you in that time of your life. Then I will need to send them to help someone else. Most of the time it will not be because of something you did, but because of something I need them to do. However, there may be times they leave you because they don’t agree with you any longer. Maybe it’s because they are listening to another voice that is not mine. Know when to walk away and when to hold on. Be thankful no matter what happens that they were a part of your life. They helped shape you into who I need you to be. ”
“My word will be everywhere you go. Anytime you are discouraged, beat down, lonely, frustrated, feeling unloved, disappointed and feel like you can’t go on, they will be there to help you.”
At this point he had his helpers pass out his instruction manual. He said not only do we have this hard copy form but he said we all can find it on our phones, tablets, computers, etc. It can be found anywhere, we just have to look for it.
“Okay, who still wants to start this journey today.”
My hand immediately went up. Wait a minute, I pulled it back down. He looked at me and smiled, I couldn’t help but put it back up again. I looked around and was amazed at how many people did not put their hands up. What were they thinking? They were thinking the same thing I was a minute ago. I guess I was just braver, better than they were.
That was when he looked directly at me. This time he wasn’t smiling.
“Pride and judgement are of this world. You are new on this journey and you will learn.”
Yes, we went to another Jeremy Camp concert Sunday. Anytime he is anywhere in Ohio we have to go. We love his music and the band and it is a great night of worship. If you have never seen him in concert, I would highly recommend it. Which reminds me, we saw him in Virginia, we were visiting our daughter Kayhla and her husband, in August and I did not write about it. I will have to get that out tomorrow because the pics are at home and not on my phone.
Royce Lovett opened for him and was very good. He did a four song set.
I think of all the times we have seen them, this was the best concert. They did an acoustic set in the middle and played some of their older songs. It was good to hear them.
It was the last night of this tour and it was also, sadly, Walt Smith, the bass player, last show with the band. He is moving on to be artistic leader for Compassion International. He has been with the band for ten years.
Needless to say, I took more pics of him than I normally would. And since he is on the same side of the stage I got some pics of Leif Skartland, he has been with Jeremy 17 years. WOW!
We love Leif. Kylie takes drum lessons from him on Skype and has grown in her drumming skills since she started. Super nice guy, everyone in the band is. After the concert he said Kylie could help him take his drum set down. She got to meet and shake hands with the other members of the band and got a big kick out of it. How cool is that!
Can’t wait until next time. Enjoy some pics from the show.
My God, My Music, My Life 