OUTDOOR TRUTHS: The Steadied Mind

By Gary Miller

My deer season opens in few days. I’ll be sitting in my truck instead of my tree stand. I’ll be heading to North Carolina to speak at a sportsmen’s dinner. When I booked this event, I didn’t give one thought to it being opening day. Because in Tennessee and North Carolina, the temps will probably reach the 80s. And I prefer to hunt in camo instead of speedos. This was not always the case. (not the speedo part) In my early years of deer hunting, every day of the season held endless possibilities. And every day I stayed home, that was the day I thought the big one was going to come through.

So, I would find a way to go early and often. This was great until I found myself lingering a little longer on the pillow during the best part of the season. I had hunted so hard during September and October that when November came around, I stayed home on the days I should have been in the woods. Today, a lot of things are different. The trail camera helps me determine if an early hunt is even needed, and the internet tells me what days each year are the best to be in the woods. And most of all, I’ve simply learned to believe that my situation is not an exception, but the rule. That is, no matter how much I feel that I need to do a certain thing, I will most likely follow what the charts say instead of my feelings. The charts have no emotions. They don’t even have thoughts. They just have truth. And I can decide whether I want to trust my emotions, thoughts, or truth. And that’s why I’ll probably not go to the woods very much until the end of October.

But let’s flesh out these emotions, thoughts, and truth. Because they are extremely important for our spiritual lives. You see, our thoughts and emotions are tied together. What we think shapes how we feel. And how we feel shapes what we think. Negative thoughts fuel discouragement, while discouragement feeds more negative thoughts. The same is true for positivity and hope. These are cyclical. If we are not anchored in something good and steady, we will live our lives on some roller coaster of anxiety and uncertainty. And what then should steady us? The truth about God and His ways. These truths remind us that He is good, and that He takes responsibility for our provision, protection, and purpose. And when we are certain about these things, our thoughts and emotions no longer control us.

Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 22 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.