Editor’s note: This series will connect topics between Christianity and hunting. The series will run throughout the archery and rifle deer seasons.

Let the journey of archery season begin.

Thousands of hunters across Pennsylvania in the last week have entered into their treestands trying to harvest a deer.

Often at the end of the season archery hunters will tell their story from the moment their trail cameras went up in the late summer to the moment they harvested the deer. Every hunter also enters into the story of the forest — from summer’s green leaves to autumn’s vastly colored landscape. The leaves of the trees slowly change color each day and eventually fall to the ground changing the atmosphere of the forest. This day-to-day attentiveness leads to an appreciation of the story of the archery hunting season.

That is why the first sentence of this column is “Let the journey of archery season begin.” Every archery hunter nods his head in agreement that archery season is a beautiful journey.

Similarly, the saints entered into the beautiful journey with God. The love story of God for His creation was one the saints wanted to know and be a part of. In other words, the saints were willing to enter into the journey in a similar way as archery hunters are willing to enter into the journey with persistent attentiveness.

The real beauty is that the archery hunter can have both the journey of the archery season and the journey of the love story with God.

Hunt from the tree stand. Pray in the tree stand. Let the two be together.

One of the easiest ways to bring hunting and prayer together is to bring a small Bible in the hunting backpack or to download a Bible app on the iPhone. Two recommendations for Bible apps: The Holy Catholic Bible and King James Bible (KJV).

Each archery hunter experiences the five minutes of settling into the tree stand. This time of entering into silence is an excellent opportunity to read the Bible and enter into a deeper spiritual attentiveness.

Begin with one of the four Gospels which tell the good news of Jesus. Then, consider the book of Genesis in which God creates the cosmos with order, beauty, and love. Afterward, look up from reading – His creative work continues right before your eyes in the forest.

As an archery hunter, win these 5 minutes of settling into the woods. Enter into both journeys (the archery season and the love story with God). Let the two be together. I encourage the reader, if not an archery hunter, to give this column to an archery hunter they know.

Luke Daghir is a seminarian for the Diocese of Erie. He is with St. Joseph and St. Luke Parishes in Warren County for his parish mission. He learned how to hunt from his dad in the forests of Elk County, Pennsylvania. His favorite part about hunting is spending time with family and friends. He also enjoys hearing and sharing stories with other hunters. His column appears every other week.