I was amazed, no, actually shocked, with what I had just read. I wasn’t reading Christianity Today or Lutheran Witness magazines. I was reading the April-May 2020 issue of Petersen’s Hunting. The name of the article was “Dear God” by Joe Arterburn.

In today’s secular world of temporal non-spiritual values, what I had just read was out of place. Hunter Joe Arterburn, while lining up a shot on an African safari, asks himself, “Should you pray that you make this shot? Is it ok to ask for Divine intervention? Don’t you think God has more important concerns than your worries about screwing up a shot at a zebra? Should you bother God with something as personal – trivial in the big picture – as this?”

Prior to this impending shot, Joe had already found himself praying. He had fired a shot at a kudu that wasn’t exactly on the mark, and he had prayed that the trackers would find the kudu before dark or before it rained. His kudu was found. Now he was wondering if it was ok to pray for guidance before taking another shot.

He then thinks of the past as he reflects, “Who are you kidding? You’ve asked for His help before. When the boys started hunting there were heavenward thoughts that a deer (or ducks or geese) would show up and their shots kill quickly and cleanly. And heavenward thanks as you hugged a happy kid.”

But he asks himself again, “That was the kids; that was important. This is you, and shouldn’t prayers be reserved for more serious concerns?” Well, Joe did pray before his shot, and he did get his zebra.

I will have to admit that this line of thinking comes as close to home as anything I have ever read. I have personally struggled with this very issue on numerous occasions. I have thought about praying that I make a good shot, and then I find myself wondering about bothering God with something so unimportant and insignificant.

I have then wondered if other hunters (or fishermen) have prayed for their own success in the field. I think that I would have been afraid to make this admission before I had read Arterburn’s courageous story. Well, I have prayed that my shot be humane, and that the target doesn’t suffer. I have convinced myself that this is justifiable. Aren’t we told that God’s providence looks out for the birds of the air? You don’t have to answer this, and it’s none of my business, but have you ever prayed for success before touching that trigger? * * * * * * *

I must admit that right now most of my thoughts are on Coronavirus, not writing a hunting or fishing article. Concerning myself, I have two strikes against me. They are my age, and the fact that I’m very weak because of recent major surgery. I must do everything possible to avoid the virus. This begins with avoiding contact with the outside world as much as possible.

While most of us are doing this, I think for the sake of our sanity that we must get out of the house every day and go for a good walk at the very least. I’ve also thought about how Betsy and I will spend the next five months in near isolation.

While I don’t want to minimize the threat of the virus, for me, while Betsy is absorbed in a good book as usual, fishing can be viable diversion. It is done in the fresh air, and it can be done alone or with friends like ourselves who have kept exposure to a minimum. A fishing license can be had on the internet. No need to enter a store. We can avoid the bait shop crowd by finding or trapping our own live bait or fishing artificials.

We must also maintain a positive attitude and plan ahead for those things we have looked forward to in the past. Mike Hall, a hunting partner, and I have already applied for a Wyoming antelope license. This was a major leap for a penny-pinching guy like me as the Wyoming antelope tag costs more than the Wyoming cow elk tags of the past few years. The guided antelope hunt even costs more than he guided cow elk hunt. This Coronavirus thing must be affecting my brain!

See you next week.