Prepared in and Out of Season

The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy in his preaching saying, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: ²Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.“

What is meant by be prepared in season and out of season?

I think of the different seasons we have as outdoors people. In my state we have fishing season, which has different regulations throughout the year. As fall approaches we have small game, turkey, and waterfowl season beginning. Whitetail is king for most hunters.

What do we do in the lulls? What do we do after hunting season? What about after our normal summer fishing season?

Being prepared in season

We who are outdoors may think we have a good understanding of what we need for the season we are in. Afterall who heads to the lake, leaving their fishing pole and tackle box in their hall closet? Who walks out to their stand or blind leaving their bow and arrows or rifle and shells back in the case?

Well, I like many of you who have likely laughed at others for forgetting the needed gear to be in the woods or out at the lake. A few weeks back I sat in my blind missing my rope for pulling the string on my crossbow back. Who forgets the essential like this. When I was a kid, I remember the local store down the road still sold ammo and guns. Every year they would sell out of ammo, and sometimes even sold a gun to people who came up north hunting and forgot their needed equipment.

How could we forget the essentials, especially in the heart of the season? The Truth is that it is far easier than you may think. We get busy, we think we’ve packed correctly, or we get in a hurry as the time to go into the field or to the lake approaches. When we arrive, we realize we are far from ready for the day.

All of life works this way. Situations arise in the moment, and we may not have to prepare in the moment. We can only be ready when situations arise, if we have our gear in place. I’ve heard many people say it’s better to be over prepared than to be underprepared. That is true in outdoor sports and in our workplaces or homes.

Yet, how many of us go through life unprepared in the moment? In our families, our work, our personal lives.

When our boss asks us if we are willing to stay late for the next two weeks to meet the demands of schedule, but we know our wife is approaching her due date are we prepared to answer in the best way that fits our life?

Being prepared to give answer or account in life means being willing to say what is true and right, and what is best for all in the situation we are facing. This isn’t easy, because we never know from one moment to another what life might throw at us. So, how can we be prepared in seasons that life throws at us?

I assure you you’ve prepared for these unplanned moments, because you’ve been building priorities and integrity for you and your family into your daily life. When the unplanned happens you will respond in the way that sits as best in your heart and soul.

Imagine a boss asking extra at a time our family needs us seems hard to many people. However, if you’ve already determined what is most important to you will more easily be able to fall onto your personal standard. If family is more important than money you will choose to say no and seek to be there for your wife more. If you’re focused on making more money than you’ll choose the extra hours. Who’s right? That depends on you, your personal conviction, and the decisions and plans of your family’s priorities.

One thing I can assure you is that if you set a standard and you bend your integrity in any way it will create a weakness in your life and allow you to give in easier the next time. So, if you’ve put your family time as priority and say, ‘it’s only two weeks, and I can do that this time’ you’ve created a weakness in your integrity. The boss will come and ask again. They will pressure you on your past decisions. You may find it easier to give in because of the money. Whatever the reason you failed to remain strong and prepared.

What does it mean to be prepared out of season?

No matter what your favorite outdoor activity you likely spend far more time out of season preparing for your in-season activities than you actually do getting out in the season. You spend time reading articles, watching videos, going to conferences, and shopping to find the right gear and best technique for when you’re out in the field.

Preparation for getting out in field is essential to our performance out into the field. That is true of hunting, fishing, and living life.

We don’t become better parents, spouse, businessperson, or friend by accident. We become better by taking scattered shots and attempts at life. We must aim for who or what we really want to become and use down times more productively to reach those goals.

We become more prepared by disciplining ourselves in areas that we want to improve. We become more prepared by reading, studying, and listening to others who have journeyed where we want to go. You don’t listen to a podcast on being a better rock climber and hope it will improve your shot during archery season. You also shouldn’t expect advice on building a stronger marriage from watching a self-proclaimed therapist with four or five marriages under their own belt.

Being prepared out of season means utilizing the time we are given to help make ourselves into the person God created us to be. It means packing the gear of our life ahead of situations so that we can say yes to what is best and no to what may be good or even hurtful to us.

Several years ago, I bought a compound bow. I’d never used one for target practice or hunting. A month after buying and sighting the bow in I joined a local archery shooting league. The league met for about two hours a week for three months. It was a commitment, but I learned from the others shooting with me how to breathe and aim better. I didn’t become an expert, but I went from simply understanding how to pull the string back and letting it go to focusing in on the target and nearing the center shot.

It is through practice and devotion that we can improve our parenting skills. When we spend time in self-reflection and sincere contemplation, we may find ourselves developing skills to deal with anger issues that have been hurting our relationship with our spouse.

Wherever we need of growth the more time and sincerity we take with such refocus the better we can become in those areas of need. Then we will know better how to respond when someone offers us a so-called once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that doesn’t match our internal values and hopes. Growth is achievable in these times out of season, so we will be stronger and better when facing the seasons in life that come our way.

To Progress, You Must Start

I’d like to challenge you to consider where you are living right at this moment.

Are you sure that you’re living prepared to be your best?

Are there areas you know you could improve in, to become better in, so that you could stand firm in whatever life throws at you in the field God may put you in?

Are you taking regular times out of season to become better for your in season work and actions?

Finally, what is stopping you from starting today?

As Paul encouraged Timothy, I encourage you to be ready and prepared in and out of season in your life.

Blessings on the journey,

Dan Shipton