The Jealous Hunter by Brodie Swisher I recently spent a beautiful, cool and crisp morning in the treestand. It was the kind of morning where you just know deer are going to be on the move. With the whitetail rut about to break loose, I was determined to sit until at least noon. But despite the perfect day, and the ample hours spent in the stand, I didn’t see squat! Not one deer! The woods were dead. Around lunchtime, my excitement for a perfect morning in the deer woods turned to frustration. Irritated at the lack of activity, I climbed down from my stand and headed for the truck. “Maybe the deer just didn’t move this morning,” I thought to myself as I made the drive home. About that time, I approached a small SUV on the two-lane in front of me with something strapped to its roof. I sped up to get a closer look. Sure enough, on a morning when I woulda swore there wasn’t a deer in the world, the hunter in front of me had found success on a nice buck. A mature deer strapped to the roof of a tiny Honda SUV is quite a sight. It looked huge! The sight brought a smile to my face. I couldn’t help but think of how excited this hunter must have been to experience success on that morning. I laughed as I thought about how entertaining it must have been to watch that hunter wrestle that buck up on top of that little truck. The proud hunter swerved all over the road as he did his best to steer with his left hand and work his cell phone in his right hand. Texting success photos to friends just couldn’t wait! I found myself proud for this hunter. As I traveled down the road, tailgating a little too close, I shared in the excitement of the hunt for this individual. It was his moment of glory…and it was pretty cool to watch. But there was a time when things would have been different. There was a time when jealousy would have washed all over me at the sight of another hunter’s success when I experienced only struggle. Have you been there? Do you share in the joy of your buddy’s success when a kill shot pops up on your cell phone or email…or do you cringe with a feeling of jealousy? Jealousy often makes us say stupid things, act in inappropriate ways, and do things that ought not be a part of our character. James 3:16 says, “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” I recently read a letter from one hunter to another that was riddled with jealous accusations and absurd untruths. One hunter’s struggle for success led to more than they could handle. Bottled up bitterness and jealousy had spilled over into inappropriate actions. Whether in the woods, or your daily routine of life, I want to encourage you to leave no room for jealousy in your life and in your relationships.
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In a Flash by Brodie Swisher With the skies across our valley beginning to lighten, I found myself rushing down the two lane highway that leads from my house to one of my hunting spots. I had a few emails to send before heading to the woods, and I was now running behind and racing to beat daybreak. I was in the middle of questioning myself on the integrity of passing a school bus in front of me when out of nowhere, a huge cow elk flashed across the road in front of me. It happened fast…and close. Before I could move my foot from the gas pedal to the brake, she had come and gone. My adrenaline went nuts through my body as it often does when a quick and ugly crisis catches me off guard. My heart raced as the near reality of such a large beast meeting my windshield sunk in. I was on a highway that routinely sees critter collisions. Deer die by vehicles along this highway nearly every day during the whitetail rut. I knew the potential…yet I was caught off guard. As I continued on down the road, thanking God for pushing that cow out of my way in a hurry, I was reminded of how suddenly the return of Christ will be. The Bible is clear that regardless of the fact that we have been told, warned, and prepared for His coming, we still have no idea when it will happen. It will happen in a flash. The Bible says, “For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes.” (Matthew 24:27) In the blink of eye, as quick as lightning flashing across the sky, Christ will return! 1 Thessalonians 5:2 says, “For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.” On the way to my treestand that morning, I asked God to help me not get so consumed with the rush of life that I fail to realize that there is so much more to life than the here and now. This little vapor of life in which we now live is fleeting. It will soon be gone…and then true life begins. I want to be ready…I want to stay ready…Knowing that in a flash, He’ll be back! Are you ready for that moment? |
Brodie SwisherBrodie Swisher is a World Champion game caller, accomplished speaker, a notable writer, a skilled hunter, and all around down to earth guy! His travels take him across the country as a well known public speaker in the arena of outdoor events such as wildgame dinners, banquests, archery classes, and filming. Above all Brodie Swisher loves Jesus and he can't wait to share his passion for Christ with those he meets. Archives
September 2013
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