It was a mild October evening, the leaves were crunchy beneath foot, hoof, and of course the annoying squirrel. My dad dropped me off at the tree stand and pointed in the general direction of where his tree stand was and said, “I’m going to be 80 yards that way.” I settled in the stand on the edge of a picked cornfield and waited. Every time a squirrel moved I looked, knowing full well it was the same annoying squirrel that made the crunchy noise five minutes before. I passed the time the best a 12 year old boy could, sitting as still as possible. Then out of the corner of my eye I caught movement, I slowly turned my head to see what it was, two small does working their way down the edge of the picked cornfield. My heart began to race, my legs shake, and I tried to calm my nerves. The deer were coming closer; 40 yards, 30 yards, 20 yards. My bow felt like it weighed 200lbs. I drew back, lined up the shot and squeezed my release. The arrow found its mark! It was an unforgettable, unbelievable experience. A new beginning. I was now officially a hunter, my world was changed forever.
LIFE TIP: The Bible also speaks of new beginnings. The book of Romans speaks of why we need a “new beginning.” Romans 3:23 states “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All, as in everyone. We have in some way all come up short in what God expects. That news is a little dis-heartening! But, (Thank God for buts) Romans 6:23 goes on to say “The wages of sin is death (more bad news!!!), but (There’s that word again) the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 5:8 states “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. So how do we accept this gift from God? Romans 10:9-10 states, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” This isn’t about a specific prayer I can type and you can say. This about getting alone with God, repenting of your sin, believing that Christ came, died and rose again for you and starting fresh. A new beginning. – Jason Reed
FIELD TIP: Most of us have experienced what we call "buck fever". That moment when you can feel your heart beating in your chest and your muscles seem to turn to jelly. It's a feeling that keeps us coming back for more. It is a feeling I hope I never loose, but it can also cause us some serious difficulty and be the difference between making a good shot and not getting a shot off at all. So how do you control it? What works for me is focuse and confidence. From the moment an opportunity presents itself I try to focus on the business of placing a good shot. The confidence comes from practice and repetition. The fundementals of the shot should be second nature and not be something that can fluster you in the moment. What have you found works for you? Let us know by email or on our Facebook page. We will post your thoughts and you may win a official Take A Stand Outdoors hat.
