Hunting in Appalachian Kentucky was a survival event in those early decades, through the Great Depression and beyond.  I have heard tales of hunger causing my family to kill and eat just about any animal.  My white grandpa (my dad’s father, who lived in the white house), would eat just about anything.  If I killed a groundhog, he would want to eat it.  No longer because he was starving but because of the sweet memories that tough times can deliver if we allow it.

“Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.”  Job 12:12 (ESV

By the time I came along, hunting was a social event that I loved to be a part of.  Primarily because of the camaraderie, the stories and the non-stop laughter.

During one particular trip to visit my grandparents, my green grandpa was going rabbit hunting with two of his brothers.  My dad and I were invited to join and you did not have to ask us twice.  This hunt was memorable for me because I was allowed to carry a shotgun for the first time.  An old, wire-barrel 16 gauge sing-shot, shotgun.  This was a major step into manhood for a city kid from Ohio.  I still could not have a shell (bullet) in the chamber!  Oh well, a kid can dream.

My grandpa’s oldest brother, Nathan, was hunting with us and while I don’t know how old he was at the time, he was old.  How awesome that he was still hunting and still contributing mightily to the stories and laughter that were making up the substance of the hunt.  You see, what’s misunderstood by too many people is that hunting is not really about killing, but about socialization, relaxation and appreciation for the outdoors.  It’s called ‘hunting’ and not ‘killing’ for a reason.  I digress.

As we prepared to head into the fields, following those amazing beagles as they chased the prey of the day, rabbits, I noticed that my Uncle Nathan was still in the pickup truck, with both driver and passenger doors open.  When I questioned why, I learned that he could no longer handle the rigors of walking through those briar-filled fields.  With great amazement I learned that his brothers loved to hunt with him, so they would bring him and set him up to shoot at any rabbit that the dogs might run by the truck.  And the dogs had been trained to run the rabbits by the truck!  Awesome!

So, with great amazement I realized that we were there to make an old man’s day by being the drivers of prey to allow him to continue the joy of a lifetime.  Hunting rabbits.  And as we walked through that field, listening to the baying of those beagle hounds, we heard two shots.  As we returned to the truck, there on either side of the truck lay two rabbits who would gift that old man with a 5-star meal that evening.  

Maybe the best hunt that I ever participated in.  Then and now.  I marvel at the honor and respect that this oldest brother was afforded by his brothers.  I love that the older generations of my family understood that I needed to experience this.  I always remember my dad being with me as a boy hunting and I miss him the most when I am walking to a deer stand today.  I did not know my Great Uncle Nathan very well, but I knew he was a respected patriarch of my larger family.

Boy was I blessed to have been born into that family that had nothing.  I learned everything from them.

“You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.”  Leviticus 19:32 (ESV)