Bloodtrails

By Brodie Swisher

I was flipping through my photo album of hunting pictures recently as I often do as I await the arrival of opening day. It’s become somewhat of a ritual that seems to help inspire and excite for the soon-coming days of hunting season. In that album are photos of my first deer, my first deer with a bow, first turkey, bear, elk, antelope, and others. Whether it’s a photo of me clutching the antlers of a buck or a limit of ducks, the images immediately take me back to the day it all went down. I can’t help but smile when I think about the victory that took place on that day when everything went right and success was mine. But there is one photo in particular that brings a flood of emotions like no other. It is a photo I snapped of a crimson colored path that led to an October buck that had found my arrow on a frosty Tennessee morning. The mere sight of that bloodtrail changed everything on that morning. Doubts were replaced by confidence. The low had escalated to a high. A good bloodtrail is the sign of victory…and on that day, victory was mine.

When I think about bloodtrails I think of the song, “Follow the Blood,” by my friend and singer/songwriter, Steve Chapman…

Follow the Blood
I watched the arrow as it flew
From the shelf upon my bow
I was sure its flight was true
When I saw the red stains in the snow
So I....
Follow the blood
That crimson sign
Follow that trail
I know I'll find
Death that gives life
A gift from above
Sadness and joy
Follow the blood
I saw the drops of sorrow on the ground
Then at once it came to me
The hope of all mankind is found
On the way to Calvary

The shedding of blood in the deer woods gives me a fix that I’ve found in nothing else on this earth. It’s what I need each fall as the steamy summer months give way to the cool days of autumn. But there is an even greater need for the shedding of blood...a bloodshed that has an eternal impact.  Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”

 Because of the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross, we have hope, we have peace, we are redeemed, we have life. Death brought life…thank you Jesus for the blood!

Check out Steve’s books and devotionals for hunters at www.steveandanniechapman.com