OUTDOOR TRUTHS: New Starts

By Gary Miller

Deer season is coming to an end for most hunters except those in the deep south. There’s only a couple more weeks in most places. The rut has passed once again, and the deer are moving to new patterns. Now it’s about the food and putting on weight that was lost in the last several weeks. It’s also about getting ready for the harshest months ahead. For me, while I still have a few more hunts to attend, I am already thinking about next year. But not necessarily in anticipation, but more so toward new promises and goals.

For instance, next year, if that big buck shows up the very first day of my trip, I’m taking it. And if that good buck shows up at shooting light, I’m going to wait until I get a good look at what size it actually is. I know some of you understand exactly what I’m talking about. You have already promised yourself some things that you’re going to do different or better next year. Let’s just call these our New Deers resolutions. While we may forgo all other resolutions, these are never far from us.

Like all resolutions, they provide us with a new start. And I’m all about new starts. New starts keep me going. Monday is a new start. January is a new start. Seasons are a new start. Birthdays are a new start. A good medical report is a new start. For some, each month of sobriety is a new start. There are just so many things that we can pull from that give us the opportunity to have a new start.

But why do we all reach for new starts? It’s because they give us hope. And hope makes us keep going. Hope buries problems under the soil of possibilities. Hope destroys what has destroyed so many – and what will destroy us. And that is hopelessness. My friend, God is a God of new starts. His mercies are new every day. His forgiveness is new every day. And He is still making humanity into new creations through Christ, one person at a time. He is the creator and sustainer of new starts, because He is the God of hope. The very birth of Jesus was announced in order to give hope. The shepherds proclaimed, “I bring you good news that will bring joy to all people.” That news was the start of something new. That headline was the message we all needed to hear. It was the start of hope for us and for those who would otherwise live hopeless. So, keep getting excited over finding new ways to have new starts.  It just shows you’re just like your Heavenly Father.

(We’ll talk about this on Tuesday morning, on Zoom. Get the link at outdoortruths.org.)

Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 23 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. Miller can be reached via email at gary@outdoortruths.org.