Outdoor Truths: Living on past experiences
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By Gary Miller
This time of year I try to spend as much time in the turkey woods as possible. Since I speak and write to a lot of hunters, I really do need to be able to tell some stories that are not too far from the past. So, I just think of April and November as the two months that I have to go back to school to do continuing education – to keep my accreditation current- to keep abreast on any new tools and techniques. (That sounds really good. I wonder if I can use that on my wife?) But in all reality, I do try to hunt hard during the peak days of turkey and deer season. And my fishing is usually only in the later spring and summer months. But no matter when or how I sort out these periods, the truth is, if I am going to be relevant to today’s hunters and fishermen, I have to participate in this activity and not just draw on my knowledge and my experiences of the past. When talking to other hunters and fishermen, it doesn’t take long to determine if these men and women are current in their pursuits or if they are living on past experiences. And it is really embarrassing when someone tries to tell you how to go about hunting when it is evident they have not been in the woods in years. In these cases, it is always better to keep our opinions close to our chest and to disclaim any idea that we are beyond learning.
This also reminds me of many folks who are quick and loud to spout their ideas about God, Christianity, and Christians. Most of the time their discourse will start with the words; “Well, I believe…….” When this happens, just hold on because they are going to give you a rant for the ages. The problem, however, is most of their information comes from ancient experiences and very limited and stale knowledge. And while they are convinced, anyone who has enjoyed new experiences and has gained more knowledge will recognize quickly that their enthusiastic friend has a lot of thunder and lightning, but no rain. I think we all need to ask ourselves if what we believe about our faith is based upon present or past experiences. We may say that absolutely our faith is based upon a salvation experience that took place years ago. But if that is the limit of our experiences with God, we are very poor indeed. And what about our knowledge of Him? Again, is it based on only what we learned in the past or is it fresh and added to often. Only we know. No, I am wrong. A lot of people will know as soon as you open our mouth. A wise man once said, “”Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt”? I couldn’t have said it better.
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■ Gary has written the Outdoor Truths article for 20 years. He has also written four books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations.
