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

A few years ago I hunted from sunrise to sunset. While walking out of the woods after a full day of hunting, the phrase “from the stars to the stars” came to mind.

I remember entering the woods early by the light of the moon and seeing the vastness of the stars. Throughout the day I watched as the sun rose, then made its way across the sky, and finally set over the western horizon.

Then, the stars came back out again. It was truly a hunt “from the stars to the stars.”

I had a professor once describe what he called desert days, which are days when we get out of our normal routines and let go of emails, meetings, TV time, our to-do lists, scheduling and everything else that comes with the daily routine of life.

He encouraged us to bring a book, relax and pray throughout the day. As he spoke about desert days I thought about that “from the stars to the stars” day of hunting from years before.

Jesus modeled to us a perfect example of a desert day. The Gospel of Mark informs us that “It was very early in the morning and still dark. Jesus got up and left the house. He went to a place where he could be alone. There he prayed” (Mark 1:35-36). The desert day approach is grounded in the example of Jesus.

Jesus models to each of us that we need to set aside quiet, reflective time in order to pray.

Hunting and Christianity both love the silence and desert days. Hunting provides the opportunity (and excuse) for a desert day; a place where the daily noise and distractions can be set aside. Think about taking a desert day, or a half desert day, and go enter into the silence.

Here are a few tips that may help a hunter during a desert day: bring the bible and read one of the Gospels. Bring a piece of paper and pen and write down the people that one is grateful for. Lastly, in the same way the forest opens itself to new life by the light of the sun each morning, so too the hunter’s heart should be open to new life by the light of Jesus.

Christianity is full of paradoxes: one of which is that a desert day with Jesus actually helps to increase the flowing streams of faith, hope, and charity in our hearts.

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.