I Remember Taking a Shot

article by Paul Lipe

I REMEMBER, with a considerable amount of amazement, the time when I shot my first rabbit. Let me preface this by stating that no one who knows me would consider me a hunter. My father, on the other hand, did his best to get me to go with him as he hunted small game (there were no deer near our home). A number of our relatives were farmers who gave my dad hunting privileges on their property. His invitations to “go hunting” were declined by me; I would rather stay at home and read a book! Besides, hunters have to get up before daylight, whereas “readers” can sleep ‘til mid morning or even until noon. Especially if one’s father is away from home!

To encourage me to experience the joys of hunting, my father bought me a .22 rifle for Christmas when I was in my early teens. Even that was not enough to pry me out of bed and away from my books. It was not until Jonathan, our first son, came on to the scene that I weakened. He wanted to go hunting and his dad was his chosen partner. Well, one cannot deny his son, so the big day arrived.

A good friend of mine was harvesting his soy bean crop, and he told us that it was not unusual for rabbits, who were squatters in his fields, to stay put until the combine threatened their domicile. Then they would dash to the already-harvested portion of the field to elude the huge creature that was making such noise and raising such havoc. Sure enough, our farmer friend had been true in his description of how to get a shot at a rabbit. But he had failed to tell how fast these little creatures would be running as they fled the big, green monster.

Nevertheless, I shouldered my .22 and fired. The escaping rabbit had met his match! My speeding bullet intersected the space occupied by the rabbit’s head and he was toast. The driver who was watching from the combine could not believe his eyes. It was not possible for a man shooting a .22 to hit a target as small and fast as that little animal. He shut down the machine and jumped down to be sure he had not seen the impossible.  But there it was – a rabbit with a wound to his head and a baffled preacher with a .22 in his hands. In order to explain his feat, the preacher (that’s me) told the harvester that he always shot prey in the head – which at the time was true, because I had never before shot at one!

Well, is there any point that one can take from this story? Those who know me personally are aware that when I share a story with others, my intent is to share some truth that might impact the lives of my audience. Perhaps the primary point of the tale is this: even though I had no idea that my shot would hit the mark, I was certain that, if I did not shoot, I surely would not hit anything. I took the opportunity that presented itself to me. Probably many of us who are active Christians have the opportunity to share the Gospel with friends, neighbors, or relatives. But we fail to “take the shot” less for fear that we will do so poorly that our “target” will be turned off and will never come to Jesus in saving faith. Consider this: if I do not make an effort to introduce the person to Christ, it is possible that he will never hear the Gospel. It is always better to “take the shot” than to let the opportunity pass and we receive a significant blessing when the Lord uses our “shot” to bring a lost sheep into the fold. Several people have said that God “is the one” that made that rabbit shot possible. l’m not sure about that, but I know it is God’s grace that equips us to tell others about him. May God make “fishers of men” of us all!