I' m glad to see other Christian hunters stating their feelings here.

I often pray while I' m hunting. For a big buck, a long-beard, a close shot, for shots for my hunters, for being alive, for being able to hunt, for being able to hunt as a way of living, for children who suffer (especially those in the wars).

I also thank God that Todd gave me my own forum here (T.R.' S Tips).

I guess the best way to express my feeling is to post my " testimony. I think it' s time I did.

A Hunter Who Survived Suicide

I was born to unwed parents; a twelve year old girl, and an eighteen year old boy. I was then adopted by Dr. Roger Michels and his wife Pat, and grew up in Willmar, Minnesota, where I attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church. After high school I enrolled in St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, with plans of going into wildlife research. But, I left college to work as a horse trainer and trail guide on a guest in ranch in Loveland, Colorado. After several years I moved to Cheyenne Wyoming, where I managed a pet store and sold men' s clothing. My life was fairly settled, I had a good job, dated occasionally, and on the outside I appeared happy. But, I felt alone, and I was depressed.

While I was in Cheyenne my parents had become “Born Again“ Christians. Learning of my depression they flew to Cheyenne and shared their newfound knowledge of Christ with me. Shortly after they left I found myself in a Catholic church for the first time in years, and I knew I had found what I was looking for, a relationship with God. I began to attend church regularly, and a few months later I was invited to a “Charismatic” prayer meeting by one of the nuns from the church. Within weeks I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, received “the Baptism of the Holy Spirit” and became a “Born Again” Christian.

For the next several years I was on fire for the Lord, and became the leader of the prayer group in Cheyenne. When I moved back to Willmar I became the leader of a prayer group at the local Junior College. In 1997, I moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota to manage a pet store. I was also trying to start a new business as a pet wholesaler, and working as a musician. Then my girlfriend broke off our relationship. I became depressed and attempted suicide by placing the barrel of a 12 gauge shotgun under my chin and pulling the trigger.

I don’t remember much about the incident, except putting my hands to my face, feeling that a third of it was gone, and realizing that I couldn’t see or speak. I reached for the phone and dialed the operator, but because I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t tell her what was wrong or where I was. I thank God that she realized something was very wrong. Because I couldn’t speak she tried to trace the phone call. When she couldn' t trace the call she tried to find out where I was by asking questions and having me tap on the phone receiver; once for “yes” and twice for “no.”

Meanwhile, my sister Debbie had been trying to reach me on the phone, but she kept getting a busy signal. Because she was worried she called the operator and asked them to cut in on the phone line. The operator told her she couldn’t cut in because it was an emergency situation, and they were trying to trace the call. Debbie explained who she was, and promptly gave the operator my address.

The next thing I remember was the sound of the ambulance coming down the street and the operator telling me that help was on the way. When the paramedic got to the house, he picked up the phone and I remember him telling her, " We' re here. It' s bad, I don' t think he' s going to make it." When I heard those words I gave up, and thought to myself, “Well God, here I come. I haven’t been real good, but I haven’t done anything real bad either. I hope I make it to heaven.”

I don’t remember the ride to the hospital in the ambulance, or the paramedics trying to get me to lay down on the stretcher, so they could put a tracheotomy tube into my throat to help me breathe, because I was drowning in my own blood. I don’t even remember the emergency room doctor asking me if I wanted them to help me. I was in such bad shape that the doctors didn’t know if I would live.

Two months later, as I stood in front of the mirror in my hospital room, I saw my face for the first time after shooting myself. What I saw was a swollen, mutilated, grotesque face, with a plastic brace screwed onto the outside of my shattered jaw to hold it together. At first I felt like I was in a bad dream, and that everything would be all right when I woke up. When I realized that what I saw was real, I tried to jump out the window of my hospital room. Thank God it was locked.

In the following months I had several surgeries to repair the damage I had done to myself. Some of the surgeries were so difficult that I was given the Last Rites. At one point I had seven major surgeries in thirty-five days, one of those surgeries lasted 14 hours. When I woke from the last of those surgeries I had new incisions on my face, both of my legs, my chest, my left side, my left arm, and my left wrist.

While I was in the hospital my parents had flown back from Guam, where they lived. They, along with my sisters, prayed that I would live. They witnessed to me about God’s mercy, and told me that they were sure that God had a plan for me. In spite of several failed surgeries, I somehow kept my faith in God.

Over the next ten years I had major surgery every six months. Muscle was taken from my upper arm, my side and my chest to repair my face and the roof of my mouth, which was no longer there; blood vessels were taken from both my feet, and the top of my head to provide blood for the muscle transplants. Bone was taken from both my hips, the left side of my pelvis, and a rib from my right side to repair my upper and lower jaw; skin was taken from my upper thighs six different times to transplant to my mouth and sinuses. I barely recovered from one surgery before I went in for another one. After I had my twenty-first surgery I decided not to have any more. Even though the doctors told me they could do more, I had had enough.

While I was still having reconstructive surgery I met my wife Diane, and we were married in 1984. I adopted her daughter Melissa two years later. We then had a son, Dallas, and another daughter, Tawnya. In an effort to regain some semblance of a normal life I attended the Wilderness Guides and Packers School in Jackson, Wyoming, where I received my diploma as a certified hunting guide. Two years later I formed T.R. Michels Guide Service; booking hunts for several guides and outfitters in North America. I also guided for elk in New Mexico, and for goose, deer and turkey in Minnesota. For the next few years I was busy throughout the year booking hunts, guiding, and giving seminars at sport shows. Then, because I was away from home for much of the year, Diane left me.

During the first years of our marriage our family had attended church regularly. But, we had not been attending prayer meetings. After Diane left I felt the need for Christian fellowship, support and prayer, and I began attending a Catholic Charismatic prayer meeting in North Saint Paul, Minnesota. Within six months Diane returned home and our family began to regularly attend prayer meetings, with a renewed faith in the Lord.

One night while we were praying in tongues at the prayer meeting my son Dallas whispered to me that he wanted to pray in " tongues" too. But, he said he didn' t know how. I told him, " Maybe you don' t know how, but the Holy Spirit does, just let him do it for you." While I was talking to him I noticed that my youngest daughter Tawnya was praying in tongues, which she had never done before. And then Dallas began praying in tongues. I know now that they had both accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and that on that night they received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit; Dallas was eight years old, Tawnya was six. My oldest daughter Melissa gave her life to Christ later that same year; she was 13.

In 1999, Melissa became engaged to Greg Boehmer, who she had been dating since she was 13 years old. Later that year a local evangelist, Lowell Lundstrom, invited me to speak at the 2000 Wild Game Dinner at Celebration Church in Lakeville, Minnesota. Greg accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior at the dinner that night. Then, on Easter Saturday of 2001, five weeks before he married Melissa, Greg was baptized, confirmed and celebrated his first communion in the Catholic Church. I am proud to say that I now have another " Born Again" son.

By the grace of God I began writing my column Maximum Effort Hunting System (which has been published in several Midwest publications) in 1987. I began giving seminars at sport shows throughout the Midwest in 1988. I designed Konifer camouflage for the Cabela’s catalog in 1989, and Field “Stalker” for the Herter’s catalog in 1992. I wrote my first two books Goose Addict’s Manual and Elk Addict’s Manual during that time. In 1997 I began writing for the National Rifle Association’s American Hunter.

I currently write for the National Wild Turkey Federation' s Turkey Call, Petersen’s Bowhunting, Buckmasters, Bow and Arrow Hunting, North American Whitetail, Fur-Fish-Game, Midwest Outdoors, Big River Outdoors, Midwest Bowhunter and several other regional and state publications. I write the " Deer Management and Nutrition & Deer Research column in Rublines magazine, and the " Deer Biology & Behavior" column in Whitetail Fanatic magazine. I have also written articles for the Christian Bowhunters of America Speaking Out magazine, and the Christian Deer Hunters Association newsletter. I also author the " T.R.' s Tips" forum at www.HuntingNet.com.

I thank Jesus for dying on the cross for me, for coming into my life, for saving my life, for returning my speech and sight, for saving my marriage, and especially for saving my soul. Jesus is my Lord, and my Savior.


T.R.

TR,

Thats one heck of a story and it sounds like you have finally found your place. So many people take their lives for granted and forget just how fast things can change.

You sound like a remarkable person and I wish you much joy and happiness.

Michael

Your post is well taken. It is the beauty of the outdoors that makes me feel one with the Good Creator & it is like much needed medicine for my soul to simply be in the woods at any time. I find that as I get older (still only 26), I become more thankful for my blessings, and nothing means more to me than the ability to hunt with family & close friends in the wonderful Southern outdoors. I appreciate your post & it made me see that I need to be more disciplined about showing the Lord my appreciation after each hunt, no matter the outcome. Often times, I have a word with the Good Creator while in the stand & I feel a great sense of well being as a result. How can a man be blessed like I am.....for my family' s small farm in rural North Florida is literally a dream come true. God gives me the opportunity several times each fall to witness one of His most splendid creations in its natural environment - the majestic & elusive Southern whitetail. A man could ask for no more.

Perhaps Steve Bartkowski said it best....
" It is my opinion that no human being appreciates the handiwork of our Creator more than the outdoorsman. The beauty, majesty, and serenity all work within me giving me a keen sense of wonder of how it all works together so marvelously well....then, I am reminded that God does all things in this manner."

That' s a heck of a story! Sounds like you found God' s plan for your life.

How can anyone stand in the mountains on a cold clear morning and say there is no God?

I agree with W. Dale

I must admit that I do say a little prayer in thanks for any animal I harvest, be it a large Elk or a tiny rabbit I thank the Lord for allowing me to harvest one of his creatures.

Thanks LadyF. I dont feel so alone now.
Rick

I definitely Pray and Thank the Lord, Before and After every hunt.

I must be the only atheist here.

I don' t pray because I don' t believe there is a god.