OUTDOOR TRUTHS: Be patient
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That morning I had located what turned out to be four toms and some hens. They were still on the roost. And even though they had not been pressured, I made sure to do minimal and only light calling. A soft yelp on my slate call was enough for all the ears within 100 yards to hear me. So, I laid down the call, got my gun ready, and began scanning the top of the hill in front of me. I knew pretty much what any older tom would do. He would not come directly in line with my call. He would show up to one side or another. These birds know not to trust their ears as much as their eyes. I also knew that any other tom that might be with him would follow. Sure enough, in just a few minutes, two hens and four gobblers showed up about 100 yards to my right – which is a terrible place if one is right-handed like myself. Two of the toms began to perform in full strut. The other two shortly followed suit. The hens were not impressed. I thought about how I might go about getting a shot without being seen. Nothing came to mind other than “be patient.” Soon the hens moved within 35 yards of me, and two big toms were following. The problem, however, remained. They stayed to my right. How would I rearrange my seating, raise my gun and aim without them seeing me and flying away. I couldn’t. So, I decided once again to just be patient. Before too long, all those toms began coming my way and moving perfectly in front of me. The biggest one came to about 40 yards. When he moved behind a tree, I raised my gun, got ready, and waited (patiently again) for him to clear the tree. When he did, I aimed carefully and pulled the trigger. I ate smoked turkey breast for lunch the next day. He was a big bird. Eleven inches of beard. One and a half inch spurs. It was a fun hunt.
When you look at the subject of patience in the Bible, you will quickly notice that God thinks it is important. There are several reasons and many of them have to do with our everyday circumstances and situations. But I think when it comes to relationships, I see three things. First, God is patient with us. A synonym of patience that describes His dealings with us is the word long-suffering. God is longsuffering with us. I sure am glad He is. Secondly, since He is patient with us, He wants us to be patient with other people. Or be long-suffering with others. Yes, this is the hard part. But here’s the third piece. It’s the job of the Holy Spirit to produce in us the patience we need to deal with others. And in this I think is where people see Jesus in us. It’s when our patience with others is seen as coming from a place beyond us. So, the next time you’re struggling with patience with others, ask God to remind you how many times He has waited for you to get it right. For me, I think He’s still waiting.
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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.
