It’s mid-June on the nearly uninhabited plains where Colorado meets Kansas. The days are getting longer and the sun is pushing temperatures into the 90s. The plains are home to rabbits, skunks, hawks, wolves, deer, coyotes, elk, wild horse, and buffalo.
On this particular afternoon, the sky begins to darken and the temperature quickly drops. Ominous clouds completely snuff out the sunlight as the wind sweeps across the open plains. Thunder cracks overhead like a warning shot from a distant foe. The sound alone is enough to send the rabbits and skunks back to their burrows.
Then comes the rain. What begins as a drizzle quickly intensifies with huge, heavy drops that instantly saturate the dusty terrain. This sends the wolves and coyotes to their dens and the hawks to their nests. The rain is short-lived as the remaining cool air of spring turns the rain into golf ball sized hail. Sheets of hail begin peppering the landscape while the thunder roars and lightening erupts from the clouds that are suffocating the sky. With no natural shelter, the deer, elk, and horses turn and run from the violent storm.
Some of the animals on the plains go underground, some seek shelter in trees, and some try to run away. But there is one animal that reacts to storms very differently. The buffalo.
At the first sight of an approaching storm, the buffalo turns and faces it. As the rain begins to fall, the buffalo will start moving toward the storm, jogging into the heavy rain drops. As the storm intensifies and the rain turns to hail, the entire herd of buffalo charges full speed into the worst of the storm taking the brunt of the pain head on. The storm wails on the buffalo. Hail beats down on the stampede. Welts the size of tennis balls litter their backs and blood drips from the open wounds. Relentless, the buffalo charge on, only running harder as the storm strengthens.
Are buffalo really just nature’s brutes that don’t have enough sense to take shelter or run away? No. In fact, buffalo are highly intelligent animals and we have much to learn from these giants.
At the first sight of a storm on the horizon, buffalo turn towards it, giving themselves the best view of what is inevitably coming their way. When the rain begins falling, the buffalo push toward the storm, attempting to confront the storm before it grows into something much worse. As the buffalo charge into the teeth of a violent storm, one that terrifies most animals, the buffalo take the worst of the storm on their own terms. In a way, it is taking the fight to the storm, instead of allowing the storm to dictate the pace. The hail will hurt, but with the storm pushing east and the buffalo running west, the worst of the storm passes quickly and the buffalo see the blue skies on the other side of the storm before any other animal. By attacking the storm, the buffalo spend the least amount of time in the throes of the storm, minimizing the overall pain and coming out the other side long before their plains neighbors.
Storms are inevitable on the plains of Colorado as well as in our daily lives. It is our reaction to the storm that determines the outcome. We can bury our head in the ground at first sight of trouble or we can tuck tail and run when things get scary. The trouble is, the storm doesn’t stop and you can’t outrun a storm. If we go underground and hide from life’s storms, we eliminate our view of the landscape and if we don't make any adjustments, we could even drown down there. If we are able to keep our eyes open during the storm, we may be able to identify a way out. If we can just keep our head above ground, we can eliminate the threat of drowning in the downpour.
If we try to run, we just prolong the amount of time we spend in the storm. There is no outrunning life’s storms, you just delay the unavoidable. Once it catches up, if you are foolish enough to continue to run with the storm, you are holding yourself in the heavy stuff longer than you need. The harder you run, the longer it hurts.
As we navigate life’s storms, we need to adopt the mindset of the buffalo. We must be aware of our surroundings and recognize when life’s storms appear. Is there a storm brewing on the horizon that you should address before it grows into something bigger? Is there a dark cloud looming in the distance? Take the fight to the storm, the quicker you get there, the less time it has to grow.
If we are unable to get to the storm before it grows and starts to get dangerous, are we going to head underground, hide, or turn and run? All of those options take our eyes off the storm, put us on the defensive, and prolong the time spent in the storm.
The buffalo, on the other hand, zeroes in on the storm, goes on the attack, and gets to the other side quickly.
But here’s the thing about buffalo, have you ever seen one alone? Probably not. That is because they are highly social herd animals that live and move together. One buffalo is strong, but a stampeding herd is unstoppable. This is the final aspect of the buffalo mindset that we have to understand. Surrounding yourself with buffalo-minded people running in the same direction will make you unstoppable. Doing life with a supportive and encouraging community infinitely increases your chances of success.
What storm in your life do you need to adopt the mindset of the buffalo? Is it a relationship that is on the rocks or a job that is unfulfilling? Is it an addiction you’ve been hiding or grudge you refuse to forgive? Is it a mountain of debt you’ve been ignoring or a business you’ve been afraid to start? Is it your diet you’ve avoided changing or your faith you’ve let slide?
Whatever your storm, and sometimes there are many, the best way to handle it is head on with your herd. Will it hurt? Yes. But nothing can compare to the hurt of allowing storms to fester for years, slowly eating away at your happiness, relationships, and quality of life.
Turning a blind eye to your storms does not make them go away, it just leaves you vulnerable. Hiding from your storms doesn’t protect you, it means you could actually drown while you wait. Running from your storms never works, they always catch up to you.
In your life, maybe the first step is simply turning around and recognizing the storm on the horizon. Maybe you’re in the middle of a storm and you need to change your course. Maybe you need to find your herd. No matter where you are, no matter your storm, the sooner you face it and charge, the sooner you make your way to the other side.
What’s on the other side? Better. No matter your circumstance, on the other side of the storm is better. Find a community of people, your herd, that is pursuing better. Talk to your spouse, join a support group, start that Bible study, get in a workout class. You can do it.
Find your herd, turn and face your storm, and charge together. Better awaits.
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