Disappointment
Some days painting, fishing or hunting can be down right disappointing. Whether it is working for hours on a painting and it just not be what you were going for, losing a big fish right at the boat right before you can see it, or not seeing a single deer or turkey after all the preparation and waiting. Depending on what else is going on in your life, you may be able to manage the disappointment better some days than others. This weekend I didn’t handle the frustration very well.
I was so excited all week to get out to our new spot we are working on and I just knew we were going to see deer. My husband and I got out there right before sunup and it was beautiful. The air was chilly, a nice breeze blowing toward us, and I drug in deer estrus behind us to help cover our scent. It was awesome. Once we got seated and setup in the blind, we heard a blow and snort. We knew we had deer bedded close. And that was it…nothing the rest of the sit…not even a squirrel. To add insult to injury, I tried to pull my bow back and I could not. I had taken practice shots the night before and had no issues. But for some reason Saturday I could not budge it. I was furious. Now don’t take this complaint diatribe the wrong way, a day in the woods with my husband is better than most other days…but I was disappointed and disappointed in myself. I was embarrassed and frustrated. Unfortunately I fell into some old habits and I let this put a damper on my afternoon and evening. I was moody and made everyone else around me have to deal with me being in a mood.
In my old way of thinking I would get fixated on the disappointment and frustration. I would wallow and obsess for days and weeks. But thankfully through God’s work in my life I have a much better perspective. My God given relationship to the word and constant need for prayer helped me move pass the frustration and disappointment. I have been reading this devotional on the Bible App on how trees are used in the Bible to depict relationships with Jesus. One of the daily devotionals resonated with me that evening and made me realize I was falling into one of those same sinful traps. I am thankful that God is keeping me close and not letting me fall back into some old habits. I was reminded to be thankful for the day and work to make the next day better.
So, I reduced my bow weight and practiced pulling back. My husband and I discussed my mechanics and how that since I am so new to this that my mechanics in the moment may have been the real issue. A few take-aways from this lesson for me: Learning never stops and trusting that you can achieve is critical. Don’t belabor the disappointment or failure- just keep trying and working hard to get better and learn more. Rely on The Word not yourself….God will always point you to him.
Hebrews 12 : 1-3(NIV)
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
