Hunting for Alligators

Up Close, But Not TOO Personal

I so wanted to see an alligator up close. Well, maybe not THAT close. And maybe an alligator-proof barrier between me and the gator would be a good idea.

Early December provided surprisingly great weather for biking, walking, and hopefully reptile sightings at Sam Houston Jones State Park in Lake Charles, Louisiana. But with the cool nights already upon us, was it too late in the season to spot a gator swimming or sunning in the swamp?

The park boasts a small campground with a swamp, river, picnic areas, and many trails. We immediately unloaded our e-bikes and began exploring. Just around the bend, a turtle convention was already underway on top of a log. Nearby a couple of herons were hanging out (or were they egrets? I don’t know the difference by sight).

But the water remained flat and still. No signature v-shaped ripples in sight.

Gators and Deer

The next day we rode a riverside trail, stopping to gather firewood now and then. Much of it was rather water-logged, but no worries—the Outdoor Boys YouTube channel taught us to place the wet pieces around the perimeter of the fire to dry before adding them to the flames. Thank you, Luke.

I still harbored visions of gators lying in the middle of the trail, which is just one of the reasons I wanted Roger along. And who knows? Maybe we passed some of the silent beasts in the undergrowth. But none publicly announced their presence.

At the far end of the park, I snapped photos of deer grazing on the lawns outside small cabins for rent. With the river nearby, I couldn’t help but wonder how often deer meat was on an alligator’s menu.

It wasn’t until our last day that we pulled up short and jumped off our bikes to get a closer look at Mr. Alligator stretched out along a log just offshore. Probably a juvenile, maybe six or seven feet long. He didn’t move a muscle. Neither did we as we took photos and video to document our find. Later that day, just before sunset, I walked back to find him still plastered in the same watchful position on the same log.

Eyes Open, Expectations Held Lightly

When you love to saunter through nature, as I do, you’ll likely have some unexpected, but not unhoped for encounters. Like most of us, I hoped to see bears in Yosemite National Park but didn’t expect to discover one had explored inside my tent. (Another good camping tip: besides not keeping food in your tent, leave it unzipped at least partially. That way, the bear can browse and leave without tearing open a new door. Worked for me!)

Following a trail in the mountains of Southern California, I never expected to see a bobcat lurking on the path ahead. Fortunately, 1) I was upwind of him, and 2) he was facing away from me. I backpedaled silently, grateful I was aware of him but he wasn't aware of me. Who’d ever think I could out-sneak a bobcat?

Aboard our sailboat, we were constantly on the lookout for whales but never expected to encounter a mother and her calf circling in the small harbor right where we anchored. And it never occurred to me that otters and tiny red foxes could be seen at Santa Cruz Island.

When Desire Sharpens Attention

If we weren’t looking for it, we could’ve ridden right past that Louisiana alligator without noticing. But my desire to spot one slowed me down. It kept my eyes on the water. And when the moment came, I recognized it.

Makes me wonder how often God invites me to anticipate and pay attention, to look beyond my four walls so He can provide an unexpected, but not unhoped for divine encounter. Desire, like wanting to see an alligator, doesn’t have to make us restless and discontented. Desire can increase our awareness, sharpen our focus, even motivate us to get to work. I’m learning that my posture—whether hurried or attentive, demanding or open—affects what I’m able to see.

And we might just end up noticing and enjoying what God has been doing all along.

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

When have you enjoyed an unexpected but not unhoped for divine encounter? What made it special? Share in the comments below—I can’t wait to hear!