Goodwill, Hunting, Texting, and Searching
I found my way into a new culture this week: the hunting culture. When dad and I arrived onsite, all the other hunters seemed to know what was going on. They all looked the same, talked the same, and walked the same. I was definitely “new.” After we registered, we were told to go grab a bunk in the house. I thought we’d have our own private bath…well it was private if I shut the door, (but don’t take too long.)
At the orientation, I sat in the back. The speaker gave us the run down on the wildlife center and 5800 acres blah blah…but his tone became firm, “Only shoot legal bucks! They need to have a minimum 12′’ spread and at least 4 points on one side…” I was not ready for all this. I looked around frantically wondering if this was going to be on the test! Everyone else sat there dozing…I guess they knew the drill.
Finally the times came to hunt. I got in the back of a pickup truck. I asked dad to remind me of my gun type since I knew that would come up sooner or later. Everyone else was dressed in “G.I. Joe” camo with long boots on. I’m dressed in my army jacket from Goodwill and a funny orange hat. Everyone else has cool backpacks; I’m carrying my bottled water in a Walmart bag. My dad gave me a vial of buck urine and I just didn’t know what to say. I got sprayed with some scented stuff that was to make sure I didn’t have any scent. Yeah right.
Boredom set in pretty quickly once I got on my deer stand. I couldn’t believe I had phone service! Is it bad for a new hunter to be texting his wife and kids from the deer stand? I felt guilty.
Unbelievably with my Walmart bag, cell phone, Goodwill jacket, and trusty vial of deer pee, a buck came by. He was flirting with a doe. My hands started shaking. I looked at the antlers trying to discern if he was “legal.” I went back and forth if I should shoot or not. I had a shot and squeezed the trigger and…nothing happened. The bolt action wasn’t closed all the way. My heart was racing, the flirting continued and Buck walked away. There went my deer! He walked about 50 yards away, turned and stood still. This was my chance! Boom! I thought I hit him, but I wasn’t sure!? I searched for buck and he was nowhere to be found. Maybe I missed? Darkness set in quickly, the rain was sporadic. I looked all over the place. I prayed, “Lord if I hit buck, let me find him.”
Finally the pickup truck came around the bend with all the guys on the back. Everyone was hungry for the fried chicken waiting at the bunk house. I told the driver that I may have shot a buck but I couldn’t find him. I could almost feel the glares from the hungry hunters in the back. I wonder if anyone ever got shot by a hungry hunter because some guy couldn’t find his deer? The DNR (Dept of Natural Resources) guys got out and started looking around. They asked me questions that I didn’t know the answers to. They were accepting and helpful while I felt like such an idiot. After 15 minutes one of the guys found one drop of blood. Thank the Lord!! We started looking for a blood trail. Forty yards away, he found buck. The DNR guys announced, “hey you got yourself a pretty good looking deer!” I was so relieved! I got on the truck with my 7 point, 150 lb. buck at my feet. The guys with all the fancy guns and gear congratulated me….my very first deer.
One guy, with a sharp southern accent asked me what kind of gun I was using and I was so glad that dad had reminded me (it was a 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser if you care.) I could hardly wait to text my family and let them know that I got one.
When I had some time to reflect, I gained a new respect for people who are not part of the Christian culture, but who come and check out the Christian faith. They may not talk or dress like Christian folk. They may sit in the back and wonder if something is legal or not and they probably text during the sermon. For too long the faith community has extended an invitation, “you are certainly welcome to become just like us!” Instead I need to be more like the DNR guy who accepted a newbie just as he was and helped him find the blood. That is the true calling of Jesus-followers!
Got the buck and the story to boot. Glad to hear that your hunt was successful…and that the deer was found. Wouldn’t want those hungry hunters shooting the wrong prey.
The church needs to be a lot more like Cheers. If I walk in the door and nobody knows my name, it really is an odd situation. How can I feel welcome if I’m an “outsider”? The ice breaker clearly has to be from the inside.