What Two Jealous Turkeys Taught a Wild Game Hunter About Encountering God

Spring turkey season was in full swing in Tennessee. Because I (Steve) rarely pass up a chance to chase some birds, when my buddy Lindsey Williams called and asked if I wanted to join him the next morning for a hunt in his “Concession” stand (where we hide, eat, drink coffee, and wait for critters to show up), I answered yes before he could utter the last word of the invite. Before you start looking for a way to express your pity for my addiction to the chase, please understand that, for me, hunting is more than just providing meat for the table. There is an even more redeemable element to my obsession.

When I go hunting, it is also research. Each trip is an adventure into fields of truth from the Lord. I receive myriad insights for my own discovery and book research: insights about relationships with God, with others, and about His creation. My hunt with Lindsey provides a good example of what can be discovered out there if a person is on the lookout.

About thirty minutes after daylight, Lindsey and I saw a hen wander into the huge meadow we were watching. She was about 200 yards from us. A minute or so later, we caught sight of two adult toms entering the field near the hen. Lindsey and I smiled as we silently encouraged the hen to move across the field toward us as she fed. However, it seemed she was about to lead the two gobblers away…but suddenly the two boys looked across the field in our direction and the game changed. What they saw was too much for their bird brains to resist.

Lindsey has a decoy called B-Mobile. It’s a life-size strutting turkey that is painted in vivid detail. It sports a real turkey fan mounted in full bloom. Next to B-Mobile, Lindsey had placed a hen decoy in a position that indicated it was receptive to breeding. When the two amorous male birds caught sight of another male in full strut and about to close the deal with a hen, jealousy and desire took over.

The two mature gobblers did something that was actually out of character for birds their age. They turned their attention away from the hen in front of them and made their way across the field toward the two decoys. They left the real thing alone, leaving her bewildered, offended, and miffed. Within a minute or so, the two lovesick and dangerously jealous gobblers closed in on B-Mobile. When they got closer, they completely lost control of their emotions. Both of them gobbled simultaneously, loudly to say the least, and forcefully enough that we nearly felt the wind from their angry rant. We’re not sure what they said, but whatever it was, it would be their last words.

They proceeded to show fight as they neared and made several wide circles around B-Mobile. Just as they were about to attack their plastic counterpart, I heard Lindsey softly give the count-up. “One, two, three…” At three, the field rumbled with the report of two 12-gauge weapons of destruction. Instantly two toms paid a huge price for succumbing to jealous and covetous rage.

What was the takeaway from the field besides some really good eats? The obvious lesson gleaned from the two deceased birds is that a man should never ignore the deadly danger of yielding to jealousy. He should always heed the warning found in commandment number ten: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife” (Deuteronomy 5:21). It’s not a safe thing to do!

Blessings on your hunting and research. Each time you go, may you too find meat for your body and soul.