Bowhunting Becomes A Soul’s Alignment Through Challenges In Life

As a man of action, I’m not one to broadcast my journeys through social media or public forums. But when the challenges of 2024 pushed me to the edge, I realized this story isn’t just mine—it’s a story of resilience, growth and the pursuit of purpose, and I believe it’s one worth sharing with the readers of Georgia Outdoor News.

It all began in May, when I thought the year would unfold like any other. But an unfortunate injury—shredding ligaments and tendons in my ankle, ended up becoming the least of my worries. Life has a way of teaching us lessons in unexpected ways. The injury led to double-tightrope surgery and weeks of therapy, but that was just the beginning of my journey into adversity in 2024.

While vacationing in Utah in early July, I found myself in and out of Utah hospitals, battling something I’d never heard of—complicated diverticulitis. A brutal series of treatments from three separate hospitals failed resulting in emergency surgery having half my colon removed, losing 30 pounds and a dreaded colostomy bag I still have. To top it off, an incidental discovery of non-smoker’s lung cancer late in 2024 led to the realization that my health battles were far from over. I was faced with choices, and none of them were easy.

There’s a natural temptation, in the face of such adversity, to let our circumstances define us—to let the struggle be the story. But through this season, I learned something essential about growth: adversity doesn’t have to define you—it can refine you. Life’s hardest moments don’t just shape us; they transform us. They give us the opportunity to grow into something more than we were before. And what’s more, they clarify our sense of purpose.

In my case, that purpose has always been tied to my love for the outdoors. Bowhunting isn’t just a hobby for me; it’s where I find my soul’s alignment, where I’m most in tune with the Creator and the world He made. This passion—this gift of archery and bowhunting—has never left me. But when illness sidelined me for much of 2024, I found myself unable to do what I love most: immerse myself in the pursuit of specific whitetails—those mature deer I’ve spent months and years tracking, observing and building relationships with through trail cams, video cameras and binoculars.

This year, one buck, in particular, became the symbol of my journey—an 8-point I named ‘Ocho Cinco.’ I had spent months tracking him, learning his movements, understanding his patterns. It was a pursuit as much about patience and persistence as it was about hunting. He became more than just a target; he was a part of my story. A part of my journey toward healing and growth.

Though I couldn’t physically get into my tree stands during most of the season, I stayed connected through the lens of my cameras, following Ocho Cinco from a distance, learning from him. And finally, on the morning of Jan. 5, I had the privilege to climb back into my stand. God smiled on me that day, and I was blessed to harvest Ocho Cinco—my first whitetail of the year. The feeling of that moment was overwhelming, not just because of the successful harvest, but because it represented something so much bigger: the culmination of a long, uncertain journey back to the woods and back to my passion.

But this article isn’t about the harvest. It’s about the journey. It’s about how a bowhunter, in the face of personal adversity, refuses to let go of his purpose. How, when the road ahead seems unclear, we continue to pursue what we love, knowing that with resilience, patience and a deep faith, everything we need will eventually align.

We often hear the phrase “God never wastes a season,” and I believe this to be true. He doesn’t waste the good seasons, and He certainly doesn’t waste the hard ones. Through every hardship, there is an opportunity for growth—an opportunity to be refined into the person we are meant to be. And sometimes, that growth happens when we least expect it—whether it’s in the stillness of a tree stand, in the quiet moments of reflection, or in the pursuit of a beautiful 8-point buck like Ocho Cinco.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through all of this, it’s that purpose is not something you find; it’s something you continually pursue with intentionality. And, as bowhunters, we’re reminded daily that the pursuit is more important than the prize. It’s the journey, not the destination, where we find the true purpose of our lives.”

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope it’s a reminder that no matter the obstacles, no matter the setbacks, our purpose remains—waiting for us to rediscover it in every challenge, in every season.