Right before the impact,
while talking of a hunter's luck,
I told my wife,  "I never rest
until I get a buck."
Born to be a rugged hunter,
trained by Dear Old Dad --
If the season ends without a buck,
it makes me mighty sad.

Morning after morning,
up and out before the dawn,
Hoping to bag a trophy deer,
I stubbornly struggle on.
As we rode on and chatted
about my hunting zeal,
A vision of a deer appeared,
and  brother, it was REAL!

As it neared the lane we traveled,
there was no place to hide;
With trucks on both sides of us,
to veer would be suicide!
I know God guided and kept me
from making a mistake --
With a sure and steady foot,
I pressed down on the brake.

By the time the deer careened
into the car's front end,
We knew his fate was sealed,
his wounds would never mend.
It's not the way I set my heart
on hunting every year;
The last thing any hunter wants
is to see a suffering deer.

Although our car was totaled
and our plans were set aside,
We never will forget the day
of our disturbing ride.
If one car had followed closely,
and hit us from the rear,
One of us could have been killed
instead of the hapless deer!

Thank the Lord, we were unhurt,
though shaken up that day!
Angels must have been on duty,
guarding all the way.
We may not know why we were spared,
but this I tell you, friend,
If we were not in God's own care,
it would have been
                  THE END.

"But I trusted in thee, O LORD:  I said,
Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand..."
                        (from Psalm 31)