The Gift of 57

Life is full of ups and downs. We each carry our burdens that make our souls scream out from the inside, “ not fair!” and at the same time we each are blessed with joys and abilities that cause others to look at us like we are the lucky ones and wish they could have similar experiences. If only they knew the whole picture. And what if we could see the whole picture when we look at others.

The picture that we paint of ourselves is often accomplished by what we present to the public. Some of us comb our hair, put on makeup, and deck ourselves out in the best of clothes before heading out. Some of us just put on our favorite hat and call it good. And some of us don't care how we look. Others of us fear what others might think of us so much that we don't go out in public at all unless it's absolutely necessary.

I'm more of a hat guy. I don't want everyone seeing my bald spot or my mad scientist morning hair.  Even though it doesn't change who I am, it helps me to think that others won't see my really ugly parts. It's mostly only Jenelle and the kids that know about my wild and tangled mop with the bald spot on top of my head. For the most part, the hat stays in place. That's the way I like it. I'm just a hat kinda guy. 

Facebook and social media are a little bit like that. Some of us like to look and see what others are up to, wondering how we measure up. Some of us like to paint a perfect picture where everything is perfect. Some of us remind me of my mom's neighbor's dog. He's a pit bull with way too much energy and not enough rope. Even though his rope is really long, he really wants to run. But he can't. And so when someone stops by he growls and flings dirt with all four feet. He puts fear into everyone. But when I talk to him gentle-like, he starts to calm down. I'm sure that if we had a couple of hours together we could be best friends.

For me, when it comes to Facebook, I still tend to be the hat guy. I don't want people to see the bad stuff. I want them to see who I am minus the bad stuff, but yet I don't want to paint that perfect picture either. I'm definitely not a suit and tie guy!

I was thinking about that this past weekend. It was my birthday. I started this tradition where I shoot a balloon with my bow at the amount of years I am turning in yards. This year it was 57.

I like to figure it out a couple days prior, shooting and adjusting the way I hold the bow until I get the perfect anchor point figured out and using the tip of my arrow for a sight. It's more science than skill, and it doesn't work for hunting situations, but it's a fun thing to do.

On the morning of my birthday I blow up a big balloon and try to remember my exact anchor point. Some years I get it on the first shot. Sometimes it takes a couple or more. This year it took one. 

Posting it on Facebook has been part of the tradition. As I get older it's starting to feel a little braggy and I almost don't like sharing. Topping off the lucky shot, my whole day was perfect. I couldn't share all of that or people would think I was a fake. It was just too good. 

I went shed hunting and found four shed antlers. One was from a buck that I had found sheds from in previous years, but last year I couldn't find any and I assumed he was long gone. Because the antler was from last year, there's still a pretty good chance that he's gone, but the fact that he was still alive last year without me knowing, gives me hope that he's still out there.

In the evening all of the kids were home and I got to grill the big homemade burgers that we all love to eat.  Jenelle made a strawberry cake and mom called to wish me a happy birthday!

And then my boys had a basketball game. It was a church league game.They were on different teams and they played each other. It was a close game with the ending score of 91-89. One of my boys lost and one of my boys won. But they were both winners in my book. They both blocked each other numerous times and I think there was a little bit of boisterous and fun trash talking going on. It was my favorite game of the year.

It really was just too good of a day to be true. Putting all of that on Facebook would have made me look like a suit and tie guy with makeup on.

I shared the shooting video. That seemed braggy enough.

Later that night I got a text from my nephew Levi. “Happy Birthday! I hope there's a 57 inch shed in your future”.

We both share a passion for big deer and shed hunting but I hadn't told him that I had been out or that I found a big one. My wheels turned. What if it was 57 inches. That would have to be a true gift from God. One of those too good to be true happenings for sure. One of those gifts that you just know are gifts from above. I got out the tape. I couldn't believe it! 57&2/8 inches. 

I'm not saying all of this to brag or to say that I deserved all of this. I'm just writing this to say that sometimes God gives us gifts and it's ok. We shouldn't feel guilty about it.

Often we don't take the time to recognize those true gifts. And when they are too good, honestly, it's embarrassing to put them on Facebook or to share them with others. People start looking at you like you're either a liar or some goody good two shoes.

As I write this I recognize that I have it better than some of you. I also recognize that some of you are going through a really hard time right now. I know that my cousins lost their dad last week and that left a big hole in their family. I know a guy that I used to work with who just lost his wife in childbirth. I can't even begin to imagine that pain. And so writing this almost makes me feel guilty.

Looking back at my perfect birthday, I can't help but to realize that I have days where I struggle, times that just aren't that good. Mostly I just keep my hat on straight and no one knows. There will be sad and bad days in the future I'm sure. And there will be good days for others who now have it bad. I struggle with aches and pains from Lyme disease. For the most part I keep my hat on , but sometimes I whine and complain and hobble around, and I'm sure that Jenelle gets tired of it. The curse of the love of  looking for shed antlers and turkey hunting are the ticks that carry Lyme disease. I figured it out too late. Thankfully there are antibiotics that help for a while, but they are not a cure all. (For those of you that have a similar love for the outdoors, especially in the spring, the downside of DEET and permethrin are still better than Lyme.)

Sometimes I worry about my kids. Sometimes I feel like I'm changing brakes and fixing cars on a full-time basis and wishing that we had money for nicer cars. Some days just aren't that great. Some days drag by and I wish that there was a fast forward button.

Some days are really good. But when they aren't, God is still good. Those bad days make us wish for something better, make us wish for going home.

This is Easter week. It's the week that gives us hope. There's a life beyond this one. A place where pain doesn't exist. And those joyful days, those days that seem too good to be true, those are glimpses into the future. A future that jumps from one joy to the next. And the older I get, the more I can't wait to get there!

I hope that you take some time this week to look at the Easter Story.

It's not all about keeping your hat on straight and hiding the mop! It's more about  coming as you are.

Hope to see you there!