Pushing Through Walls

It seems that the past 3 months have flown by, since the last post. For that I apologize. Life so quickly picked back up since the New Year from the store switching gears to our "off" season, winter weather and the stinging chill of northern winds commanding the bleak January and February, this year's NWTF National Convention, ramping up content, joining a group of fellow hunters, and the taking care of a friend through the last of his days. The last 3 months has been a lot. 

I'm tired, to say the least. It's amazing how unproductive I've felt in the past 4 weeks alone in terms of making content, not getting but two more sentences out of myself into the book project, and not making progress with my fitness pre-turkey season. There's no energy past what I can muster in a day anymore. I'm convinced the only thing keeping me going is the strength of The Lord. He afterall, is who placed this task upon our hearts, to watch over our friend till his last breath. This friend has battled cancer of various kinds for years, but was finally diagnosed terminal a year ago, and, was given that year to live. 

This'll be my second time caring for someone with little time left. It's hard. God's given a gift of patience and a compassion for those who are helpless to me. I don't know why this path has been brought to my life, but I have to believe that God knows that he wanted me to be the person to be here. My wife has been relentless and has also sacrificed greatly. Without her, I'm sure I'd be failing. It's hard to see someone fade, regardless of effort towards them. The evil in the world, and across the veil that we can't see, press into our heads that we are failing those that we've been tasked to take care of even though the end is inevitable, and there's no willing healing anymore. The evil presses on our nerves, on our exhaustion, and saps the ability to have a care of constant presence. But the power, strength, and might of our Lord God is greater than any of the evil that suckles on the life of this Earth and life. The suffering is great. It makes our hearts ache and eyes well up with tears. But none of this is greater than He. He is with us in our suffering and emboldens us with the power of his love, grace, and assurance of a life without any of this. The constant written reminder of all of this, is our friend. He, even in the low of lows, in the depths of his suffering, and days fading, writes on his notebook, "Keep Pushing", "Never Give Up", "Believe", and "Hope". God fuels him without him knowing it. I just wish he could see that.

We are bound to this Earth only for a moment. It's our obligation and duty to be a light in the dark to those going through the worst of the worst. God made this world so beautiful, when he didn't have to. I think it's His prevailing reminder and gift that there's always so much more than the right now and whatever the right now is bearing down on us. 

My mind stays on the upcoming spring. The beauty of that promise of the hunt ahead in the turkey woods is like a prevailing wind in my sails pushing me on. Our Friend's suffering is so momentary. We've only got a little while left. Spring can wait, because He needs me in the here and now. 

My ask and call for those that are reading, is for your prayers. Prayers for continued strength. Prayers for continued effort. Prayers for the staff taking care of our friend in his facility. And, the hardest prayer that I feel compelled to beg, is for the quick passing and the end of suffering of our friend. He has such little time left. I pray God carries him home soon. I pray that God's work through us prevails, and our friends heart turns to Christ before the end.

I appreciate every one of you, and I pray the spring season, if it has begun in your area, has brought you hard gobbles and willing Toms. God loves you so very much. 

Update: As of 3:06a March 26, 2026, our friend, who has battled this affliction and burden for so so long, was taken home by our Father and relieved of his suffering. Please keep your prayers with his family and give glory to God that he's no longer in pain. 

MoGobbles