Deadly Glance

Deadly Glance
by Brodie Swisher

On a recent turkey hunting trip in Nebraska, I had the opportunity to sit in a ground blind high atop a hill overlooking miles and miles of prime turkey country. My hunting buddy, Don Miller, and I saw a number of birds both near and far. But the one that I’ll never forget is the one that walked right up in our lap. There were two gobblers that we’d been calling back and forth with all morning. And up until about 10:00am, the birds had managed to keep their wits about them and stood their ground. Despite our best calling efforts, they just wouldn’t leave the safety of the timber and the hens that seemed to lead them away from trouble. But around 10:30am things changed. One particular longbeard got lonely. When I peeked out the back of the blind, I could see this turkey quickly making his approach toward our decoy. As the bird began to close the distance to within bow-range of our ground blind he became cautious and a bit hesitant in his commitment to come to the decoy. The bird skirted around our setup just outside of shooting range, as if he knew better than to walk into the trap. My heart sunk as we watched yet another bird walk over the hill and out of sight. But that wouldn’t be the end of this bird. As quickly as he disappeared, his red head again popped back over the hill for another glance at the sights and sounds of the seductive hen that was tuggin’ at his attention. He liked what he saw, and he could no longer handle what he heard. He went back into strut and never came out of it. The gobbler looped around in front of our blind and made his approach to within four yards of our ground blind before I turned an arrow loose. He played the game…he paid the price. That second glance was a deadly look that cost him his life.

---

It’s painful to think of the countless men and women that have been deceived much like this lonely longbeard. We know what’s right and what’s wrong…but that second look is a deadly glance that can lead us to destruction. I often think about King David from the Bible and how he fell into this very trap when he found himself lonely and in a place he should have never been. In 2 Samuel chapter 11 we find the sad story of David’s deception. It was spring time, the time when kings normally go out to war. But David sent others in his place. He stayed home. He got lazy, and he got lonely. While walking around on the roof of his palace he noticed a beautiful a woman. If David would have just walked away things would have been much different. But he didn’t. He took a second glance. He began to inquire as to who this fine specimen of a woman was. He was warned to stay away. He was reminded of the dangers. But he blew right past all the red flags and caution lights. The deadly glance led him down a path of destruction that led to adultery, murder, and destroyed lives.

I want to encourage you to guard your eyes, your hearts and your minds today. Don’t be deceived by the deadly decoys that satan puts in your path. Don’t be a victim of that second deadly glance. Keep your eyes fixed on Christ!

---