I finally had some time to sit down and go through pictures of our recent hunt and cipher through words and emotions that have been heavy on my heart. Our hunting trip was a much needed get away to hit the reset button. It was a great time to step away from the hustle and enjoy a new adventure with my brothers. All the miles walked and silence in the air allowed me to reflect on a lot of things. During this reflection, I couldn’t help but notice a particular antagonism that existed throughout the country side. A place where technology of the future is intertwined with the days of old. Massive wind mills seeded alongside old homesteads that were established decades ago. The views held beauty and grandeur. They also held a lot of questions. Was it Gods intention to have the country side sprinkled with massive robotic pillars? Or was this done by the hand of man, lacking the inspiration of God? Was it corporate greed with the sole purpose to make a buck? Or was it a team of hard working Americans, doing their best to provide for this country? In 100 years, will someone be looking upon the windmills with nostalgia, the same way I look at the old barns? Change is inevitable. The only thing that stays the same, is everything changes. The men and women that built the old home steads never would have imagined that massive windmills would be placed on their land one day. There is no telling what this world will be like when we are dead and gone. I just hope and pray that it’s for the better, for the sake of our children and future generations. The decisions we make now will have a ripple effect for years to come.

Even though I was able to have a change of scenery on our trip, the theme was still the same as the one back home. Antagonism. The opposition between what has been and what is yet to come. Opposition is a natural part of our world. Light vs darkness. Cold vs hot. Good vs evil. Old vs new. But it seems that opposition has become more extreme and has been taken to a whole new level. I see it all around me. In politics, sports, business, families, marriages, work, race, age, gender and so much more. Natural opposition that was meant to create a healthy balance in life has turned to hatred. Warm hearts are turning cold. It seems that society is becoming wrought with hatred and taking on a whole new form. But there is hope. There is still opportunity to flood the darkness with light.

Even though we were surrounded by shadows of antithesis during the hunt, our focal point was on something completely different. It was on a common goal. We all walked with purpose, to achieve something that requires effort, discipline, intelligence and strength. On this particular trip we were chasing pheasant. But our goal was the same as it has always been, achieving unity in companionship. “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity" Psalm 133:1. Spending time with my brothers was the cake, watching the dogs work was the icing and the pile of birds at the end of the day was the cherry on top. I am proud of what we have become and thankful for our friendship. The journeys we have made together have been a blessing. Being able to step away from all the chaos that exists in the world and get lost in the beauty of Gods creation was a breath of fresh air.

With all the opposition that exists in this world, I encourage you to find unity. Particularly, unity in Christ. Turn off the tv, put your phone down, talk to your friends and family, strike up a conversation with the people around you, go outside, experience nature, soften your heart and be the light that God needs you to be. Be the servant that he needs you to be. Change is inevitable, so why not change for the better? Pick up your bible and read it. Dive into it and get to know the word of God. I encourage you to start with Ephesians Chapter 4. “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬

May God bless you, here’s to another hunt!