One Shot
With just one shot, I killed a turtle. It was a long, long time ago but the memory still lingers.
Being a typical boy I would take my 22 rifle out in the woods and pretend to be the great white hunter. I would shoot meadow larks in the fields, I would ping black birds at the garbage dump near home. I would shoot anything that flew out of trees, thinking I was a great shot. I've come to realize that killing is pure evil. I didn't know that at the young age of 11.
The events of today's world constantly remind me of how people can do bad things. The protesters fighting in Minneapolis, the existence of ICE, the killing of a young mother. Where does it stop? I shot the turtle for no apparent reason. I happened upon it, it was hissing at me, I shot it. End of story!. But I didn't realize the story just started. I didn't think about it much while I was young. Since then, I have gotten older and wiser?
There is not a week or sometimes daily I don't think about that turtle. What I did was ended an innocent life. I carry regret and I have asked God to forgive me. I am sure He has but I haven't found my way there yet. I asked the question, Where does it all stop?
It stopped for me at the foot of the Cross. I discovered the Prince of Peace, the man who forgives, the man who loves regardless of what you do.
Over time I gave away all my weapons. My shotguns, my trusty 22, my BB gun. To this day I will not allow a weapon in my home.
If you find you live a life with regret, there is a Prince of Peace out there waiting for you to discover Him. I can't undo what I did, I live with it every day. I use it as a reminder of how badly I need to place my soul in God's hands. That is where I find redemption, forgiveness and most of all love. We can use a little more of that in today's world don't you think?
God Loves You.
Being a typical boy I would take my 22 rifle out in the woods and pretend to be the great white hunter. I would shoot meadow larks in the fields, I would ping black birds at the garbage dump near home. I would shoot anything that flew out of trees, thinking I was a great shot. I've come to realize that killing is pure evil. I didn't know that at the young age of 11.
The events of today's world constantly remind me of how people can do bad things. The protesters fighting in Minneapolis, the existence of ICE, the killing of a young mother. Where does it stop? I shot the turtle for no apparent reason. I happened upon it, it was hissing at me, I shot it. End of story!. But I didn't realize the story just started. I didn't think about it much while I was young. Since then, I have gotten older and wiser?
There is not a week or sometimes daily I don't think about that turtle. What I did was ended an innocent life. I carry regret and I have asked God to forgive me. I am sure He has but I haven't found my way there yet. I asked the question, Where does it all stop?
It stopped for me at the foot of the Cross. I discovered the Prince of Peace, the man who forgives, the man who loves regardless of what you do.
Over time I gave away all my weapons. My shotguns, my trusty 22, my BB gun. To this day I will not allow a weapon in my home.
If you find you live a life with regret, there is a Prince of Peace out there waiting for you to discover Him. I can't undo what I did, I live with it every day. I use it as a reminder of how badly I need to place my soul in God's hands. That is where I find redemption, forgiveness and most of all love. We can use a little more of that in today's world don't you think?
God Loves You.
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