When I was younger I would take family vacations every year. This particular vacation we had gone to South Dakota. We had seen Mt. Rushmore, went to Reptile Gardens (where we saw the largest snakes I have ever seen in my life!), climbed and hiked through the hills, and bought a snake of my own. No, I wish it was one of the giant anacondas that we had seen but for some reason my mom didn't want to ride home with one in the car back to Utah... so I bought a rubber one. I thought that this has been a great vacation! I had seen some amazing things. After our time in South Dakota we decided to return home. Little did we know that our peaceful ride back to our own mountains, blue skies, and home sweet home would be interrupted by the craziest experience of the vacation.
We decided that on the way home we would go through Yellowstone National Park. We had been driving for quite a while so we decided to stop, stretch out a bit and get some fresh air. There was a big open field that was full of prairie dogs running around and popping in and out of holes in the ground. Surrounding the field were rolling hills that led up higher to the mountains. There were trees about a mile away that continued up the hillside. This seemed like a good spot to enjoy some open space outside of the mini van. My brother was playing checkers, my parents were talking, and I was experiencing the long needed stretch after a several hour car drive.
As I was watching the prairie dogs run around and jump in and out of their homes in the open field floor I noticed that more and more didn't come back out. Eventually they stopped all together. I didn't think a whole lot of it. Maybe it's lunch time or maybe they're all heading to a big party for Prairie Dog Independence Day. Who knows, I don't know what prairie dogs do. What I do know is that shortly after they had all disappeared there began to be something new besides the trees that continued up the hillside.
Across the field cascading down from the hillside was a mass of what looked like a brown avalanche. The first thought that came to my mind was that it was mud or dirt. As it continued down into the field I recognized that it was something much more alive! Running down the hillside out of the trees was countless number of buffalo! I don't know if you've ever seen Lion King where there is a stampede that surrounds the young lion Simba but that is just about what life was like for me at that moment. My brother dropped the checkers set and was attempting to pick them up. My mom is screaming for him to get into the car! I was in the back panicking not knowing what is going on. My dad is making sure my brother is OK.
Soon our open field turned into us completely surrounded by buffalo on all sides! They were all different sizes from baby ones running around to full grown ones that were bashing back and forth into each other. I had never seen any thing like this in my life! I loved to watch the discovery channel as a kid but it is a completely different world from watching on t.v. to being engulfed by a group of furry brown giants that were as big as your car! My parents thought it was the greatest thing they had ever seen, my brother is staring in awe, and I am screaming in the back telling my parents to get me out of here!
We slowly started to move through the buffalo as they bashed back and forth into each other. Minutes that seemed like hours we inched our way through the mountains of brown fur, snorts, grunts, and all sorts of other sounds that I didn't know an animal could even make. We eventually made it out of the park and talked to the park ranger. He didn't believe a word that we said. He told us that the buffalo are far up in the hills at this time of year. Before we started our journey through the the wall of buffalo before us my parents took a video of everything that was going on. Thank goodness for video cameras... I am forever captured screaming in the back of a mini van scared for my life! We showed the park ranger and he was amazed at what had happened!
At some point in each one of our lives we will be faced with an unexpected turn of events. It most likely won't be a stampede of buffalo, lets hope not, but those times will come. At that time I felt like I had no control over what was happening and felt like the world was closing in around me. I felt completely vulnerable to anything that could happen. At the time I was afraid, you could even say terrified. Eventually that fear passed when I was far away from the source of my terror. The best way that I have ever fought fear is with faith. Faith is the complete opposite of fear. The two can not exist together. What was a scary experience for me was one of joy for the rest of my family. As they trusted that they would be fine they were able to enjoy their surroundings. Our attitude about life is what it turns into.
Another important aspect in faith is that it is believing in things that aren't always seen but that are there. We can not be like the park ranger in our lives, unbelieving and unwilling to accept something until we have the proof that it is there. We must take a step into the darkness at times. As we do our path will be lit up bit by bit until a larger picture is in view. I made a promise to myself that I would never let myself miss out on opportunities because I was scared to do something. I can't say that I have always lived up one hundred percent to that promise but it is something that I continue to strive for. As I chose to take control of my life I continue to overcome fears and my faith continues to grow.
As we live by faith we will see a new light come into our lives. We will feel a brighter hope. We will be able to get through any challenge that ever falls in our path, or runs down a mountain into our path. We will see ourselves as who we truly are and what our potential to be really is. There is so much waiting for us in this life and all we have to do is reach out and take advantage of what is waiting for us in the dark. Don't let fear hold you back from having faith. Be believing, have an attitude that you will enjoy anything that comes your way, and don't let fear stop you from achieving what you want!
For me there is nothing stronger than the desire to be more like Jesus Christ. Having faith in Jesus Christ means that you will act upon the example that he has set for each one of us. I believe that I can have any sorrow, guilt, pain, or any burden lifted as I put my faith in him. This never meant more to me than when I let myself actually experience what it means to follow Jesus Christ. My attitude changed everything. As I put faith in him all other fears were drowned out. Whether your fears are more on the spiritual side or more on the worldly side either way they are drowned out as you choose FAITH over FEAR. Even if you don't need a burden lifted at the moment or to fight a fear putting your faith in Jesus Christ will bless your own life as well as the lives around you.
What has faith done for you in your life?
What fears have you conquered?
