A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to purchase another ranch, the Noodle Curve Ranch, in Jones country in an area northwest of Abilene. We knew that the area was known for big deer – fantastic deer hunting.

Jim Allen, our ranch manager, got everything set up for us, all the deer blinds and feeders were in place.  We went in a did some sight prep, clearing some paths – but also leaving the terrain as untouched as possible, leaving very little footprint on the land itself.  On opening weekend, I was with my dear friend, John Bracket.  His son Landon was hunting in the north blind.  He had called his dad to say he had seen a very large buck.  John wanted to be with his son when he shot a deer, so Landon didn’t shoot.  They were able to get some video footage of that monster buck.  Right then, I determined that I would hunt that blind to see if he returned.

Over the next week, I repeatedly hunted the blind, but I didn’t see the deer.  I heard 5 gunshots one night.  Every time I would hear a gun shot, my heart would sink, wondering if someone in a neighboring ranch had shot that big buck.

We went back out again this past Saturday morning.  I met Jim at 4:45a and made the 52 mile drive to the ranch in Jones County.  We got into the deer blind about 6:15a.  Within 30 minutes, there was a lot of deer activity and i ended up getting a shot about 30 minutes later.   There’s something special about finally shooting a monster deer, a true trophy white tail and having someone there with you to enjoy it.

After I got the shot, I sat in the deer blind for about 2 hours, thinking back about all of the great experiences, the great places over the past 25 years that I’ve been fortunate to hunt and fish.  I thought about those memories and all those occasions.  All of those trips were with good people – some fun times.

It was kind of ironic to me – after I thought about that.  I have traveled long distances looking for that perfect shot.  I love adventure as much as anybody does.  But here I had killed a monster deer within close proximity of home.

(Click on image for larger version)

But isn’t that similar to the way we are?  We are hunting and searching for something and we go to great lengths and great distances to find something.  It all came back to me that so often what we’re really looking for – Jesus – is right before us.  He’s close to us.  We can reach him quickly.  We have access to him.  Yet, when I reflect about the great distances I’ve traveled and how much time I’ve spent fishing and hunting, looking for that perfect catch or that trophy shot,  I realize as well how little time I’d spent on my knees praying.

Often times in life, we go to great distances and great lengths looking for something, to find something and we search the ends the ends of the earth to find it.  We buy things that we think are going to bring us happiness.  But in reality, so many people never really find that true trophy – never really reaching what we really want out of life.   Sharing adventurous experiences with good friends is part of what I think God thinks is important in life.  And I believe it’s important to have a common bond of faith between us.  And really, it’s ultimately all about Him anyway.

- Randy Hill

Growing up at Dallas Christian School, we had a graduating class of
45 students, so we were all very close.  One of our classmates, 40-
year young lady, Amy Phipps Jones, was one of our dear friends.  She
was very close friend of mine and Jeff Majors.  Amy passed away
recently.

It’s sad that a death is what brings all these friends together.  But
at the same time, there is something very special about the
relationships that you build in a small Christian school, either high
school or in a small Christian university.   You go through school
with someone for 2, 4, 8 or even 12 years and you know them so well
and then your lives take different paths – you go in different
directions.  And even when you don’t see each other for 15 years or
more, it’s special when you see one another.  When you go to a
funeral and you see Amy’s parents – and immediately when you see each
other – there’s a smile on their faces and there’s a smile on our
faces and you know each other – you recognize each other.

And whether it’s Dallas Christian or ACU, there’s a unique connection
that lasts forever.  Whether you see each other annually, or weekly
at church, or if you don’t see each other for 20 years – there’s some
very unique about a relationship that picks up immediately.  And I
think that is the bond that we have through Christ and the
relationship that we have with one another.

At the funeral, it was sad because Amy was so young, with 3 young
children all under the age of 10.  You know, it’s so sad to see
someone pass away at such a young age, and the parent outlive their
child.  We always expect us to take care of our parents.  You don’t
expect to see a child die before the parents.  Heartbreaking experience.

But when we walked into the church, the first thing we saw was our
classmates and it’s like we never missed a minute.  And we had so
many good conversations after the funeral – we went to the family
life center at the University Church of Christ in Abilene (where her
parents live).  When we walked in and saw our classmates, it really
gave me a deep feeling of warmth, of happiness .  After the service,
we saw Amy’s parents.  When I walked up to her mother, it was like
she recognized me as if we had seen each other last week.  Her Dad
was so encouraging.  Amy and I had gone to school together since 6th
grade – it was a good day to see those friends and rekindle those
relationships and to see her parents.

But it was also a tough day because someone’s life was lost – I wish
was there was a way we could get together without it having to be at
a funeral.

My main thought:  what is special is the tie that binds us together -
it’s the relationships.  People talk about loving their church or
loving their alma mater – it’s such a good feeling.  It’s the
reaffirmation of our friendships and those heartfelt feelings.

-RWH