Prey Predator Pray

Posted byGary FultzPosted inabundant life, accomplishment, accountability, adventure, communion with God, deadly spiritual perspective, deception, devotional, devotional thoughts, discipline, end of life, eternal, Faith, Gary Fultz, Gary Fultz Blog, goals, God in Nature, Inner Peace, intentional, Jesus Christ, Know God, Nature, Nature and Inner Peace, nature pictures, outdoor spiritual truths, Peace, perspective, Photography, purpose in life, quality of life, relationship building, relationship with God, spiritual adventures, spiritual concepts, UncategorizedTags:, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Hey Deer. That’s what you get for eating our sour apples!

I have always come close to wildlife. It happens to many of us who live in the woods. When a person acts normal, they do not seem to be a threat to many animals and birds who tend to meander and stop a lot. That is normal. Alertness is normal for wildlife. Taking many pauses to see and look for abnormal movement is the way of nature. Every step through the woods has a different perspective, take it in. There is no way to move without being noticed; it’s continuous movement that causes anything wild to flee. Stopping a lot is the key. So much for being sneaky, hunching down and trying to be really quiet is suspicious predator type behavior.

Deer are not predators, they merely look for food and take what is presented to them (including our garden produce and flowers). Bear are predators. Bear hunt and kill spring fawns and anything they can catch. They also eat grass and berries so being a predator they can take time outs. Wolves, coyotes, cats (of any size) and the weasel family (wolverine, fisher, ferret, pine martin, mink and weasel) are pure predator.

Eagles hawks and owls are predators, and, depending on size can kill and eat mountain goats(have you seen the you tube videos of golden eagles pulling mountain goats off ledges to fall to their death?), small deer, sheep, goats, rabbits and mice are prey. Our little dog is in the category of prey if one of our big owls has his way. This barred owl was following our dogs movements through the dining room window, when I scared the bird away he flew two trees away and kept watching. Predators will often “lock on” to their prey.

Our world and our human culture is increasingly turning into and accepting the predators and the predator culture in society. Predators lead countries and design new ways to prey on their people. Sexual movements as predators are glorified, protected and their prey is shamed. Suicide is increasingly an acceptable way to handle life’s problems as they are on the prey side of culture. Political movements are predator in nature as is our news media. Cancel culture makes the wolf pack stronger and the individual more vulnerable to all the predators out there.

This spring fawn survived the two bear hunting them around our place. About 50% of our fawns did not.

The end result will always be the same as it is in nature. When the prey is scarce and gone, the wolves turn on each other, kill and eat, and only the strongest will be left alive. It’s the way of the predator. Thousands of years of human history is no different. Wolves will take a bear out of it’s den in the middle of winter when hibernating. Coyotes in a large pack will take on a few large wolves knowing full well many will be sacrificed. When a predator becomes old, sick or wounded, they become prey. Anyone who only sees skin color or nationality is operating from the eyes of a predator.

A very small fawn skull. Even the barred owl could have been the predator on this size fawn.

Being a follower of Jesus, I know it is possible to be neither predator nor prey. We do not have to be of that character. The character God gives a person from the inside out knows no skin color or history of rights and wrongs. When we “believe” and follow Jesus, our lives are distinctly marked by becoming like Him. Love is a way of life, fear diminishes, those around them see an inner peace and joy, an aliveness that is not understood by circumstances. They also become stronger people with a surety of life and purposeful living. There is a reason to life and it is worth dying for. The Bible calls these people “of whom the world was not worthy” (read Hebrews 11:38, just read the whole chapter…it’s worth it).

It may seem foolish to have enough love so one loves and prays for their predator enemies. To do good to those who hate you goes against common sense. Jesus says to even pray for those who misuse us.

This is a much deeper way than just saying “lets all get along”. If you desire to be an “influencer”, will you come as a predator? lash out as prey being cornered? or, love God and people so attractively in lifestyle and confidence the rest of the world around wants what you’ve got?

At least one deer likes me. I toss her an tomato and save a banana peel for her now and then and warn her of hunting season.

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28) That’s beyond having religion, way beyond.

Why can’t we all learn to love and pray? It’s such a better way then hate and prey. The route to God and the route to having that kind of love is through Jesus, any other way is like lifting yourself up by grabbing your shoes and lifting…Hmm, ya, show me the video where that works.

Gary

Published by Gary Fultz

Outdoors Man, Hunter, Fisherman, Guide, Writer / Author, Photographer, Public Speaker, Musician, Song Writer, Story Teller, Follower Of Jesus. Love God and family and total strangers

82 thoughts on “Prey Predator Pray”

  4. Thought provoking piece Gary. Thanks

    Animals are without morals and the conscience of an eternal soul, and thus have an excuse for their predatory actions they need not answer for.

    Sadly the eternal souls of many Homo sapiens have lost their conscience and moral compass, and thus are without excuse for their predatory behavior and actions towards their fellow mankind they will indeed have to someday answer for. I’m forever grateful Jesus will answer for me on that day.

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  7. Hmm. Interesting perspectives.
    Love and pray is better than hate and prey – good contrasts. We are not animals, are not evolved from animals. God made us in His own image. We are to learn from God’s creation, but not stoop to animal degradation.

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  11. Thank you Gary. “I was foolish and ignorant and as a beast before you. Nevertheless, I am always with you. You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, that afterward, you may receive me into your glory.” Ps. 73:22-24. Gratefully, we live with a new heart and new spirit given through Jesus Christ. Blessings as you witness to this new life.

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  12. There’s a lot of Godly wisdom and real incentive to consider in this post Gary. We’re talking when the rubber hits the road. Sometimes hearing you is like getting my glasses cleaned. Thank you brother. Love in Christ – Bruce

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    1. Thanks for your calculating words Bruce. People are hungry for love and knowing their purpose for existing. Hungry people are vulnerable to the worlds predators and we need to share the bread of life anyway that we know how. I think in analogy form and story form. A campfire lights me up, taking someone fishing is great,. A small group is so so and Word Press quite a distant 4th.
      I’m just glad there are people like you (and a host of others) willing to use a lot more words daily to get the message out.

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    1. Thanks Erroll, taking the time with pauses to be aware of what needs are around us and what God is saying to us about it is one of the hardest disciplines of following jesus. We just want to grab a sword and cut off ears. (I know, Peter was aiming for the head probably)

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  19. “Why can’t we all learn to love and pray? It’s such a better way then hate and prey.” Thank you Gary for this post! You have taken the chaotic behaviors prevalent in the world and put them in terms I can understand- predator and prey. Nature has always made more sense to me than human behaviors. (Your wildlife descriptions reminded me of PBS’s Wild America with Marty Stauffer which we would pile onto the sofa to watch with Dad growing up). As I reflected on your post, I had to think of Jesus’ words, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

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    1. Thanks Beth. Great comment reflecting on Jesus words to his disciples. He came as the sacrificial lamb of God and we are prey to the world but conquers through Christ..I love the tip for living “Be shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves. This is beyond our understanding from a human strategic standpoint. I grew up with Marty Stauffer as well…good stuff and real life in nature.

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    1. True Stephanie. You are right about being light to the world. Ironically what is happening is also opening peoples hearts for a searching for answers to a much better life than they have. We have those answers as a relationship with Jesus offers that. Our alertness to others searching needs to be high in the days and years ahead. God has definitely stuck a stick into our church culture and stirred the pot. May our lights shine bright!

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  28. Well said. This reminds me a bit of Corrie Ten Boom’s story after she was released from the concentration camps. Going so far as recognizing one of the soldiers who had imprisoned her sister and herself, and then having to forgive him. It doesn’t make sense in a “predator or prey” world, It breaks the mold, as it were, that our world tries to put everyone into.

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    1. An amazing story Jennifer and a great real life testimony of how Gods love is so powerful we can have that kind of love as well even though we should never dare to say it is OUR love, but God’s through us. Miraculous actually.

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    1. Not yet Andy, I have been out of town but I have let them know about it. We will probably take 2-3 weeks of various parts after an overview. The goal is to have stories from their personal prayer life. Thanks for asking.

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    2. I can now report Andy. There was a few weeks of discussion. Part about prayer and part about where each one was at with prayer and how to move forward individually. The biggest consensus from the group when all was said and read was that each of us is a beginner in the area of prayer and must move forward intentionally including all 9 of Spurgeon’s suggestions. We used those suggestions as a foothold to get into our conversations and opening up on our own needs. it’s still ongoing and hopefully will always be.

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  31. This would be such a wonderful place to see all of these animals. I have visited here this week on the western side of Canada seeing so many animals. And I love these photos .and I am happy I found your site and I love your peaceful words.

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  32. Very true!!!!

    I love this, “Anyone who only sees skin color or nationality is operating from the eyes of a predator.”

    We are called and created for so much more from our Lord Jesus Christ and may people are missing this big time. Thanks for the creative analogy that you draw to bring this truth out.

    You are blessed 🙏🏾

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    1. Thank You so much for your kind words. I think if we could actually know how much more God has in mind for us we would not waste much time on the frivolous. We all need each other so much more than we can imagine to get there as a unified body of believers.

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  33. Beautifully-written, Gary. I love the analogy because, as you’ve written, humans can be predators just like animals in the wild and we see this more and more as time goes on. It’s sad that predators are praised and prey is brought to shame. Many people call this, “survival of the fittness” and “natural selection,” but I believe it’s a cop out and just another way to blame the victim and call them weak. I was bullied severely years ago but Jesus carried me through it and enabled me to use the trauma I endured for good. And I thank Him for it! ❤ 😀

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  34. You are right on Cherie. Your experience has made you recognize quickly where the world is headed, the bullying of the masses as well as the healing power of Jesus.(which makes us different and thus a target). Ironically, the “weak” are made strong if they persevere. knowing and following Jesus has made all the difference for me as well.

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