What Lies Ahead
Last Thursday was December 9. At 5 AM, I rolled off my air mattress and dressed as quickly as possible in my tent. My son had graciously heated up some coffee for me. I poured it in my Yeti cup (given to me by my dear friend, Chris Martin, Executive Director of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Association) and stored it safely in my backpack.
It was dark, quiet, and still as I made my way to my deer stand for the first morning of a three-day hunt with John. Once again, I came home empty-handed. But John harvested a nice six-point buck that he graciously agreed to share with his sisters and me.
A lot of people don’t like venison. We used to feed it to our children’s friends without telling them it was deer meat. They loved it until they found out what it was. But our children grew up on this healthy, delicious, pure meat. Between venison and government WIC stamps, which, because of my low income, we were eligible for, God provided for our family. To this day, my girls eagerly await gifts of venison, processed as hamburger, steak, and sausage. It’s as much tradition as it is taste, nostalgia for days gone by.
And just to be clear, deer hunting in our family was not a male-only sport. Sherri has two huge bucks hanging on our wall, both of which are larger than my one. In fact, the kids named Sherri’s two bucks, Solomon and Big Boy. They named mine Bambi.
And it was my middle child, Mary, who shot her first deer at twelve years old. I’ll never forget that experience.
As we watched a deer cross the field, I excitedly began whispering to Mary. “Can you see it through the scope? Are you comfortable taking the shot? Do you have a good rest to help stabilize the rifle?” My little twelve-year-old looked me in the eye and said, “Dad, if you will be quiet, I will shoot the deer!” I zipped it up, Mary shot the deer, and we enjoyed venison all Fall and Winter.
That’s why last Thursday, December 9, as John and I shared our experiences from a day in the woods, I suddenly remembered that it was exactly two years ago that I arrived back in the United States after almost twelve years in Seoul, Korea. I never expected to return so soon. Heck, I’m only sixty-four! But God led me home two months before COVID-19 rocked our world.
As I look back over these past two years, I see God’s hand at work in my life and ministry. I’ve published three books and am busy working on a fourth. I began writing these Monday through Friday posts. And maybe best of all, I got to play Pharaoh in Vacation Bible School this Summer at our church!
Sometimes I wonder what the future holds for me, for us, as a couple and a family. I haven’t spoken publicly in two years. Honestly and oddly, I don’t miss it -my reading, study, and writing more than fill that vacuum. Still, I wonder what lies ahead. God knows, but He’s not telling me anything!
Here’s what I do know and can say with absolute confidence - “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11)
Learning contentment is a lifelong process. It takes time, patience, and the ability to let go of trying so hard to control our lives and trust God to lead us to still waters and green pastures.
The truth is, I don’t know what life holds for me and those I love. What I do know is that God will be with us every step of the way. His goodness and mercy shall follow me and mine all the days of our lives.
The same is true for you.
In Christ,
Dan
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