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I am trusting in God’s plan

• Bob Hanna: Someday
• October 6, 2019
• 1230

Well there he is in all his glory: Wyoming bull elk 2018. No, I have not given him a name. As a matter of fact, I don’t remember giving any of our animals names.

But names aren’t the important thing. Memories are what’s important, and making those memories is what’s important. Each time a hunter looks at one of his trophies, whether it be a simple pair of antlers or a life-size mount (don’t have any of those), he/she can visualize in their mind (mostly) everything that happened on that hunt.

We had him scored, but until I get out the tape, I will not say. What do you think? Some hunters don’t really care about the numbers, but it is kinda fun. As I have said before, animals and fish are the only thing I know of that get bigger after they’re dead and each time the story is told, so there, especially the ones that got away.

All I know (and my wife keeps reminding me) is that he takes up a whole corner of our living room.

As I sit here writing, I am in healing mode. I have shared with some of you, my friends, an offer made, a plan to retire from my job, a move to Kentucky, buying a rustic home, managing a hunting property for some friends and living happily ever after. Well as of now this has fallen apart. The seller has withdrawn their offer, shattering all of our plans and dreams.

We all have hopes and dreams. Some are fantasy; some are realistic. What we do from this point is what makes or breaks us. Do we just move on or let it crush us? We thought this was a plan of God, and we were following his leading to the point of selling everything and getting ready to move.

What do we do when things don’t go exactly the way we think they should? Do we blame God for backing out on our deal? Do we hold a grudge and curse and scream that we were cheated? People, this is where God shines. The key word in the previous paragraphs is “we.”

What I want. What I had planned. What we have worked so hard toward.

But what about what God wants? Maybe we only saw what we wanted to see. Only he knows the future.

What about trust? Did God break a trust with us on a promise that we, and again I say we, visualized? God is God.

Wrong time, wrong place, wrong vision. God knows. This, my friends, is what we call faith, having faith in a God who is omnipotent, who knows us better than we know ourselves, who has a plan for me and you. Faith, trust, love: God’s plan, not mine.

Well no, I haven’t got in a tree stand yet. For one thing I hate bugs and mosquitoes, and it’s too stinking hot. For those of you out there braving the heat and taking early deer, make sure you process it as quickly as possible. It only takes a couple hours in these temps to spoil meat. By the way, congrats.

I am looking forward to helping this coming weekend (Oct. 5) with our youth hunt. Sponsored by our newly formed club, the Whitetail Heritage of Ohio, we will take 20 young people, many of whom have never taken a deer or have limited access to hunting, on a guided and filmed hunt.

Our past hunts have produced some of the most precious memories a child can have: time spent in God’s woods viewing his creation and having someone who cares paying attention.

Wow, I hope these words sink in as I have shared from my soul. With God’s direction I tap these keys, his message to reveal. I hope you take with you these three words: faith, trust, love.

God bless.