Have you ever heard the saying, “Sometimes you’ve just gotta be the buffalo.”? I used to think it was goofy. But recently I heard Fitness Trainer Andrea Allen explain on her podcast why it’s a motto that she lives by. It’s because of the way buffaloes handle storms.

Colorado is one of the few states you will see buffaloes and cows in close proximity. The state is divided by the Rocky Mountains and the eastern half flows right into the Kansas plains. Storms will nearly always roll over the mountains moving West to East. The buffaloes and cows react very differently to the storms.

The cows will sense and then see a storm coming and promptly run East in an attempt to outrun the storm. Since cows can’t outrun much of anything, they get caught by the storm but they proceed to continue running Eastward and end up running along with it. This prolongs the time the cows are affected and sometimes battered by the storm.

Buffaloes, also sense the storm coming but the herd will gather together and charge toward the West. That’s right, they charge directly toward the storm. While this may seem crazy in the moment, it actually works to their benefit. It shortens the amount of time the buffaloes spend in the storm.

So let’s take a lesson from nature. The cows and the buffaloes face the exact same storms but react in opposite ways, and one suffers more than the other. Let’s be like the buffalo and charge toward our storms. While it is inevitable that we will all have storms to face, we can choose how we will face them. We probably won’t avoid pain entirely, but we may lesson the amount of time we suffer.

There are many places in Scripture where we are told to press on or endure through the trials and storms of life. We see examples (Jonah!) that problems are not solved by running away. Many situations (Not all – remember to pray for wisdom!) could be improved if would gather ourselves…and charge! Ask yourself if you need to be a buffalo today!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. – Hebrews 12:1-3

Blessings,
Pastor Cindy