I find it interesting that the longer the industrial culture dominates the landscape the more the animal-rights and anti-hunting groups proliferate. This is because the average person becomes more and more estranged from the true source of their food and in that vacuum elevate animals that are to serve the needs of man to almost human-like status. I even saw someone on Facebook recently who said they are "praying for the deer" because they think it unnecessary to hunt because "the grocery store and butcher houses are already overflowing with food" (as if animals do not have to die in order for them to be in the grocery store or the butcher shop). This shows a complete disconnect with the way the real world works. The modern mind seems unable or unwilling to come to grips with the fact that animals must die in order for humans to live. And that mindset is fostered by the fact that so very, very few people actually know and SEE where their everyday food comes from.
1. I believe lawful, ethical hunting is a direct and logical outgrowth of the belief in God's created order given in Genesis 1 and 2. In these chapters it is clear that God designed animals (and all of creation) to serve the needs of man. Man's responsibility is to use all he has been given wisely and with great care. Just hunting to "hang horns on the wall" is not using God's creation wisely and with great care. When an animal is killed lawfully and ethically and is then used to meet the physical needs of the hunter and his family, I believe that is a proper use of God's creation.
Next is a flock of turkeys that comes by my stand. These birds are extremely smart and any movement on my part will send them scurrying to the next county. Then there is all the different birds. The crows, the hawks, the blue jays and the chickadees all make their presence known. The local woodpecker sounds like a carpenter is building a house right next door. Then there is the huge flock of Canadian geese flying south for the winter. And if I'm really lucky - maybe I'll get a glimpse of a deer. This year I only saw a total of four. Three of them I could not identify as to wether it was a buck or doe and the forth was definitely a doe. So no deer in the freezer this year.
4. Another reason I hunt is to help provide an opportunity for the young guys to experience a significant "rite of passage" into manhood. Our industrial culture offers few opportunities for boys to mark their journey from boyhood to manhood. But hunting continues to be a way for a young man to see that he is being welcomed into manhood when he sees that he is welcomed in to the company of other men at deer hunting camp. But it is not just being welcomed into the company of other men. There are things learned at deer camp that help a young man realize he needs to take on the responsibilities of a man even though he may feel ill-equipped to do so. He needs to learn how to handle a gun responsibly, how to read deer sign in the woods so he can find a good spot to hunt from, how to persevere when the weather doesn't cooperate or when there aren't many deer in the woods, how to find his deer stand in the dark, how to track a wounded deer, how to field-dress a dead deer and how to drag one in to camp when he is successful. Be assured, killing a deer does not make you a man, but learning to do the above (and more) are small steps in a long journey for a young man on his way to manhood.
REMNANTS OF THE FALL
So Marla says, "call Ryan and ask him if you can use his leaf blower". I never used a leaf blower before but figured "why not" it will probably be faster. He and Tara and Henderson were coming over for the afternoon anyway. After lunch he fired it up and help me get "harnessed" up to it. I was off and blowing!
I also learned that "leaf blowing" is a little like industrial agriculture. Modern agriculture is "faster and easier" but it is not "better". What was once accomplished with a $5 lawn rake and garden cart, now takes a $500 leaf blower. What was once a project that Marla and I did together, talking as we worked, was now something I did by myself with a loud machine roaring in my ears. That is the legacy of industrial agriculture. The machine has replaced the people and the connection formed between people that work together. But hey, thats the price of progress right? And we all know that "progress" is better than "doing something the same old way we've always done it" regardless of the cost. I'm glad my son allowed me to use his leaf blower, but I won't be running out and buying one anytime soon.
AND SPEAKING OF CATS...
Agrarian blessings to you my friends,
Todd