Call it luck or what you may, but I call it a prayerful blessing!
First of all, when Tim woke early the first morning of this elk hunt week, he, another hunter (“Doc”), and their guide (Jesus) had just gotten situated in their desired location. Within the first twenty minutes, Tim was greeted with quite an elk show. This massive creature peaked Tim’s excitement level. He was thinking, “Wow! If this is how the week is going to go, maybe I should wait. I don’t want to bow an elk my first 20 minutes into a week long hunt.” Tim rose his bow, which had a GoPro attached to the end of it, and preceded to capture the display of male-elkness this 5×5 elk demonstrated for him. What an exciting and mesmerizing performance this magnificent animal flaunted 45 yards in front of Tim.
We jokingly have these moments we like to call “Shuff-luck”. Sometimes if may be an inconvenience for us, but I often like to think of those “Shuff-lucks” as times when God is either saving us from a situation or holding us back for His greater plan. Well, over the past few months in west Florida, we have been bombarded with heavy rain. Our grounds are saturated. If a hurricane, or really even a tropical storm, were to come our way now, I’m confident that there would be numerous trees knocked down by the wind. On the other hand, New Mexico has been in a drought, and the fire warnings were marked extremely high. New Mexico, Tim and I would like to say, “You’re welcome.” It may be “Shuff-luck” for the rain to follow us out west, but these rainstorms have been a refreshing and welcoming sight for this area. The warning has been degraded to “moderate” now. Praise the Lord. (Keep this story in mind as I proceed.)
Here at The Timbers at Chama, the hunter’s go on two scheduled hunts per day. The first hunt has the hunter’s waking around 4:00 AM, and then usually return around 9:30-10:00 AM (depending on a kill). After a time of enjoying delicious food being provided for the group, lively conversations about the morning hunt, and a time of rest and/or more adventures to be had at The Timbers, the hunters prepare to leave around 3:00 P.M. for their late afternoon quest. On day two of Tim’s week, during the second hunt, after an afternoon rain, an elk presented itself in front of Tim.
Beautiful rainbow, elk down, exit wound, blessed. Let’s eat.
Tim had just gotten situated. He heard movement to his right. Tim turned on the GoPro, rose his bow for the kill, pulled back the bowstring back, and released the arrow. The elk was hit in the perfect location of its body. Tim mentioned it all happened within ten seconds. He said, “I didn’t even have time to get nervous.”
Tim’s second day, fourth hunt, first time going on an elk hunt, was quite exhilarating.
Yep, he’s my gold at the end of the rainbow.
Remember the story about “Shuff-luck” and the rain we brought to New Mexico, well, this weather brought about God’s display of not one, but two rainbows after the elk went down. What a blessing to have the symbol of God’s promise displayed in the sky after a successful hunt. (And it made for a pretty cool photo too.)
So take your bow and arrows and go hunting. Kill an animal for me to eat. Genesis 27:3
Wow!
Now, here’s were the prayerful part of the blessing comes in:
While the hunter’s are off hunting, I take nature/prayer walks around the property. When I left the lodge around 6:00 P.M., I told God, “Lord, please give me a sign. I pray that if you want Tim to get an elk tonight that I’ll see a deer on my walk. Is that okay to ask for?” The walk was peaceful and sightful. I saw a deer. And guess what time Tim bowed his elk? 6:08!
A prayer walk, a skilled hunter, a rainstorm, a challenge, a deer, an elk down, and double rainbows…I like to call that a Prayerful Blessing.
Award speech moment:
Tim and Bill (the owner of The Timbers at Chama.)
I want to thank God for the beauty He provides for us in nature, the opportunity to come on this trip, and for placing such precious people in our lives. Thank you to Bill and Rhonda Glisson for the invite to your magnificent hunting lodge. http://thetimbersatchama.com/ The accommodations and fellowship are impeccable. May God continue to bless you two in all your endeavors. Anthony and Jesus, your guiding skills are just that…skillful and knowledgeable. You men are easy to get along with. The staff this week: Chef Johnny, Loyda, Charlotte, and Lisa, thank you for spoiling us with delicious meals and a clean and inviting facility. To our new friends: Tom, Dave, Doc Tom, and Mary, what a pleasure to have met. I hope we will encounter one another again. Tim, thank you for including me on this hunting trip. I’m so proud of you! It has been revitalizing, refreshing, and exciting. I love living life with you!
So happy for my man!
Now, to all y’all…I want to encourage you to have what I like to call “God Goggles” on as your go about each day. When you have those “Shuff-luck” moments, keep your eyes open and focused on God, He will bring blessings to you in the end.
Have a wonderful day!
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
Anthony and Jesus cleaning Tim’s elk.
Click on this link to read more entries about “God Goggles”: https://soakinguptheson.com/new/?s=God+goggles. I haven’t read through them all yet to confirm, but I can’t wait to be reminded how we need to have our eyes open to what God has planned for us. Enjoy.
