Predator v. Prey

I was thinking about the act of listening this morning while the pastor was praying and a thought occurred to me. Do I listen with all of me? Do I listen, so often like I ask the kids I coach, as a deer that thought it heard a predator? That led me to "am I listening like I am prey?" Isn't it that important? So, my pastor is praying am I am thinking about being prey...

But, isn't our relationship with the Lord that important? Doesn't life actually reflect a predator and prey type of scenario? Aren't we actually prey? Yes, we are. So many times I fall into complacency and feel like I am secure where I am. I actually stop listening for predators. I get used to my surroundings and get too comfortable. That seems to be dangerous doesn't it?

My father in law is a great hunter. He has many trophies of very large varying specimen of game. I suppose that those critters that now adorn his walls were at one time either hidden very well, or wise to hunters ways to allow themselves to develop those trophy like qualities...a deer isn't born with enormous antlers..I suppose it's time that allows them to get to their size. The only way they can enjoy time enough to develop such attributes...through cunning, wisdom and awareness. What happened that they are now a trophy instead of still wandering the pasture?

Are we the same? Are we the target of a hunter? Absolutely...and this hunter also seeks trophies.

How do we ensure that we do not end up on the mantle of our enemy? I heard some anecdotal saying...an ambulance driver stated, "do you want to know which of the patients I drive to the hospital survive? The ones that keep watching, they keep looking around, they stay aware." There may be no proof regarding that statement, but don't you just know that there is some truth to that? If the deer didn't let it's guard down, it may still be alive. If it didn't get used to the sound of that deer feeder, if it didn't lazy and just want to pick up the "free" corn.

We are being hunted. The hunter is the most crafty hunter that ever existed. It will require us to be aware, ever mindful and ever moving forward. That we do not become complacent or look for shortcuts or easy ways out. The hunter has "deer feeders" of all sorts that he uses to draw us out. His blinds are the highest quality...he's almost undetectable..

Almost. We have a savior, a guide, a watchman, an educator, that trains us up to be able to identify this hunters crafty schemes..

All we have to do is seek him like we are prey and he is our protector, shepherd....