OUTDOOR TRUTHS: Adapt
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The toms are gobbling all around. Their call is one of the most recognizable in all of nature. Whether one is a turkey hunter or not, everyone knows this familiar sound. And even though a tom turkey will gobble the entire year, he is especially vocal during the spring mating season. The turkey is an amazing bird. Just a few decades ago there were so few that most hunters turned into fishermen during the spring. Now, the turkey is in every state except Alaska. And not only are they surviving, they are also thriving. The reintroduction of the turkey has been a great success story for fish and game commissions all over the country. There has been a concerted effort between them, some conservation groups like the NWTF, and the turkey themselves. Yes, the turkey has really done its part in this process as well. They have adapted. It seems no matter what type of terrain the turkey is placed in, it survives. And not only does it survive, but it seems to accept its environment and make it its own. It doesn’t care if it is placed in the mountains or the flatlands, in the cold or hot temperatures. It is going to not only endure its situation; it is going to enjoy it. That’s how I want to be. I want to be an enjoying Christian and not just an enduring one. And it’s really not up to anyone or anything but me.
All of my life, my circumstances have changed. I have noticed as I have gotten older that nothing stays the same. It seems just as I get a grasp on some new thing, it is replaced by a newer thing. I could grumble, complain, long for the good ole days, refuse to change, and endure the rest of my life as a cantankerous old man. Or I can choose to relish the opportunity to learn, be thankful for the opportunity to live in this new arena, adapt, and enjoy every minute I am blessed to be here. That is an easy decision for me. I hope it will be for you. When I think about this, I’m always reminded of Apostle Paul’s reminder of what the Holy Spirit is trying to produce in me. He writes this. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” This means, if I mature in my faith, my old age will not be characterized by cranky or cantankerous, or even just enduring. It will instead be seen as one that is characterized by these nine flavors of this fruit. Because while society, culture, and circumstances change, what the Spirit wants to produce in me, will not. It will fit in every generation. This means if I’m looking for stability, I don’t need to look at what world I’m in, but what world is in me.
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■ Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 21 years. He has also written five 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. Stay updated on Outdoor Truths each week by subscribing at Outdoortruths.org.
