His white head seemed to glow against the shadows layered under a sea of mountain laurel. At one point the thought had crossed my mind that he was hung up, but a few minutes of silent treatment did the trick. He was coming in, just like I was reeling in a fish. He was a “monster” gobbler and was now struttin’ less than 50 yards from me. I’m quite sure I could have shot him at that distance but opted to wait for a sure kill. I could hear something in the distance, but couldn’t make out what it was. As soon as he cleared the brush I was shooting before he heard it to. He had one more big tree to clear and he was mine. How he did it I’ll never know, but he managed to somehow vanish. The sound I was hearing was growing louder and seemed familiar but I still couldn’t make out just what it was. As it continually grew louder and louder I finally came to my senses. It was my dang alarm clock, I had been dreaming!!

A shower, 2 cups of coffee, and a biscuit sent me on my way. A short 20 minute drive and I was walking the edge of a field in the darkness, heading towards the setting I had just visited in my dream. I knew the general area where several birds usually roosted, one of them was going to belong to me. As the early gray light started to streak the starry sky, I was ready. Some previous scouting was now going to pay off big. I was seated at the base of a big pine about 10 yards into the woods that surrounded about 1/2 acre field once used as a tater patch. The birds were there, the feed was here, and I was there, all that was missing was a little daylight. I figured the birds would start gobbling on their own, so I didn’t push it.

About 20 minutes of good daylight had passed and still I had heard nothing except for about 100 crows. My eyes were working overtime searching every square inch of my surroundings for the slightest movement. I scanned the brush with riveting intensity to no avail. The land behind me turned very steep, and continued that way for about a half mile to the top of the mountain. The little field was totally surrounded by thick brush and very tall poplars. As I sat there wondering where the action was, I let out a series of soft yelps with a couple of clucks added for good measure. Twenty minutes later nothing had changed. I looked at my watch and it was 7:15 for some unknown reason I glanced upwards at the exact moment a big bird came busting in over the treetops. He was so high, and the field was so small, it seemed like he came straight down.

He disappeared for a moment then landed less than 15 yards from me, and headed for the decoys

Moving quickly towards the jake decoy, he dropped his left wing to the ground as the feathers on his back started to raise, then spun to face his adversary. What he didn’t know was his true opponent had an Remington 870 aimed straight at his reddish blue head.

It was over as quickly as it started, the Lord had blessed once again.

Looking back on that day I brings a smile to my face for it reminds me of another hunt I was on that lasted for years. I was hunting for my place in life. I had a good job, a great family, I grew up in a loving home, many would say I had it made but there was a huge void in my life that I couldn’t seem to fill. I tried this and that, looked here and there but couldn’t find what I truly needed. I loved hunting and fishing as much as anyone ever had, but even on the most successful days there was still something missing.

It was to the point of where I didn’t like who I saw in the mirror. It wasn’t the outward appearance that was distasteful to me, it was who I was on the inside and I of all people knew that guy well. I covered my pointless existence, with jokes and laughter. It seemed that by being witty I felt better about who I was. But it only was a temporal fix. I was bottoming out and I knew it but just couldn’t seem to get right. Then one great day, for no particular reason I glanced upwards. That’s when my life changed.

All the emptiness I had been feeling was now filled with unspeakable joy, I wanted to do things for other people with out there being a dividend in it for me. My marriage got stronger, my life became more productive, and I finally realized that I was somebody, and I did have something to offer. I fell in Love with my Savior who knew and loved me before I was ever born.

My only regret about coming to know and love Jesus Christ is that I waited until I was 31 years old.

I was smart enough to know that God existed, but I was to dumb to realize He holds the future for all of us in his nail scarred hands. If your life is anything like mine was, quit searching the world for contentment, you will not find it.