Buffalos in the Road

As you are likely aware, I was in the state of Wyoming last month for the fall meeting of the Calvin College Board of Trustees. One of the members has a ranch there and she invited the board and key members of the administration to come to Wyoming for our bi-annual retreat.

Along with hearing some very good speakers and participating in helpful discussions, we also had an opportunity for recreation. A group of about 20 of us opted to go to Yellowstone National Park and I was asked to drive one of the minivans for the day.

As we drove over the pass that brought us into the park, it began snowing quite hard on the pass. The road was narrow and very curvy with a sheer drop-off on one side much of the way over the pass. My passengers were all from either Michigan or Minnesota. One of the women from Michigan asked why a guy from Tennessee who rarely sees snow was appointed to drive the van in the snow in the mountains. I assured her that even though I do live in Tennessee, I have learned how to drive in the snow: just drive faster to get off it more quickly! Oddly enough, she didn’t seem particularly reassured from my attempt to humorously reassure her.

As we toured the park we saw steam vents, boiling mud pits and eventually Old Faithful itself. On the way back however, we encountered something that likely was most memorable. As we rounded a curve in the road, we noticed that the traffic in both directions had come to a stop. There was a herd of buffalo on both sides of the road.

At first it looked as though the cars were stopped simply to look at these huge animals. Driving up a bit closer, however, I saw the real problem that was causing the traffic jam. There were two buffalo standing in the middle of the road, one in each lane just staring at the cars. That was definitely a first for me! After a few minutes the buffalo in the oncoming lane slowly walked off the road and into the meadow. The one in our lane remained there, however, just staring at the line of cars.

Finally it too started moving off, but then stopped in the oncoming lane. Since the cares ahead of us slowly began to drive around the buffalo, when it was our turn, I slowly eased by the huge animal, wondering how to explain to the rental company how the hoof print got on the side of the van.

Just as I drove by its rear, he turned his head and looked right at me. I sat there eye to eye with a huge buffalo, not more than 6 feet away. It was an amazing thing to look into the eyes of such a creature. The expression on his face was as if to say, “So what are you going to do about it?” And when facing such a creature, there was clearly not much of anything I could do except wait for it to get enough out of the way.

There are times when things happen in our lives that seem to be obstacles or problems that we don’t want to have. Sometimes the obstacles are annoying or frustrating and sometimes they are unnerving. And they seem much bigger than we are and there seems to be nothing we can do but wait for them to move. Sickness, financial struggles, marital and relationship struggles all seem like roadblocks that seem impossible to move around.

Yet, at some point we move beyond them. At some point, God moves them and helps us to get past them. It may seem like it takes forever at times, but ultimately the one who controls all things moves the things that hold us back and we gain relief.

And often at that point, we see something we couldn’t see before. We see God in a way we’ve never seen Him before. We see His power, His majesty and His love. We are humbled when God brings us such relief.

Psalm 77 reflects this kind of attitude.

I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me.

When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted.

I remembered you, O God, and I groaned; I mused, and my spirit grew faint.

You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak.

I thought about the former days, the years of long ago;

I remembered my songs in the night. My heart mused and my spirit inquired:

“Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again?

Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?

Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.

Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God?

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed.

The clouds poured down water, the skies resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth.

Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.

Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.

You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

When I saw the eyes of that buffalo, I saw something much more majestic and powerful than I. It was a humbling experience. When God delivers us, we see His glory and His mercy and that too is a profoundly humbling experience. Praise God for His grace and faithfulness.

Pastor Jerry

November 2006