The Seasons: A Poem

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Sunrise over Amazing Grasses Family Farm The mad Artist wields His brush, Painted colors rush, To life and give flush, Before the quiet autumn hush. The life seems to pour, As colors fall to the floor, To be seen no more, Outside the dark, grey door. Brightness from below, Sun upon the snow, High, cold clouds blow, Flakes and ice appear to grow. The man melts with little seen, Underneath, pale, grey green, Hides life in dark unseen, Waits for warmth and to careen. Buds on branches show, Patience starts to grow, Trickles, streams and veins flow, Bringing fruits of melted snow. Sprung to life it springs, Bees, birds, sound rings, Lush green flings, Its gift bounty brings. Green growth gives one last rush, Underneath the Painter's brush. The mad Artist wields His brush, before the quiet autumn hush. More poetry is available from James M. Hahn in  The Last Dragon and Other Poems  available now. My new book of cryptogram puzzles " Secret Messages from the Saints " is avai
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Learning God's Patience While Hunting

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(Originally posted in Nov 2012)

I never realized how patient God is until I took my sons and nephews deer hunting this past weekend.  In Ohio, the weekend before Thanksgiving, there is a special youth deer hunting season.  I invited my brother-in-law and his two oldest boys to join me and my three oldest.

The Friday night before the hunt was filled with stories and excitement as we discussed technique, strategy, location, timing and more.  The boys could barely sleep and to be honest neither could I.  I wanted them to get a deer or at least a shot far more than they probably did.

Over the course of the weekend we sat on hillsides and in hunting blinds.  We hunted on the ground and from the trees.  We watched squirrels, turkeys, and deer come and go but nothing within range.

The boys divided up among me, my brother-in-law, my uncle, and my father.  The stories among the adults were mostly the same.  The boys couldn't sit still for very long, they crunched leaves out of boredom, they wanted to run here and there rather than sit patiently and wait for the deer.

I was tempted to be upset with the boys and reprimand them but I didn't want this to be a bad experience for them.  While sitting in one of the blinds with one of my nephews, who was literally dancing in the blind with excitement, a revelation came to me.  I realized that what I was experiencing must be similar to what God experiences with all of us.

Whereas I wanted so much for the boys to get a deer, God wants so much for me to have faith.  Whereas I did all that I could to set them up for the best chance to see and possibly shoot a deer, God causes events to happen in my life that could very much strengthen my faith.  And...whereas the boys were just to wound-up to see a deer or even let it get close, I too am too pre-occupied with the unimportant things to ever get a chance at growing in my faith.

Scripture says, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:11).  It's much easier said than done.  I know that as our hunting tradition continues through the years, the boys will mature and be able to be still, rest, and hunt with patience.  I pray that I too will learn patience and be able to be still and wait for the Lord.  I only hope that chuckles to Himself now as he sees me fidget on this expedition we call life.


Click here to read more from James M. Hahn - Blog - Books 
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God bless you - Jim Hahn
* Contains affiliate links. No, that doesn't mean that the kids should leave the room. Rather, it means that if you click on a link, and if you purchase something, I may get some financial remuneration for that click and buy. All that means is that my kids will finally get to eat, just kidding but I may get something, just so you know...

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