Do you know that American Bison and cattle have different responses to storms? Cattle will turn their backs to the storm and then travel with it. Bison will face the storm and walk against it. The result is that cattle will be in a storm for a longer period of time and suffer greater casualties. Bison walk through the storm and come out of the other side in shorter time with fewer injuries and deaths.
The same is true in water-craft safety. One of the first things that a sailor or boater learns is to turn the bow of the boat into the storm.
Many years ago, me cousin, David, and I were in a small rowboat on a lake a Canada. I was in the stern steering our little 15 horsepower motor. David was in the bow. The lake had a system of locks that would take you from one level of the lake to another. As we approached one of these locks a speedboat roared out onto the lake. It had two 100 horsepower motors, passing us on our port side about 30 feet away. I had just enough time to turn our little boat into the huge waves the speedboat had churned up. Before I knew it David was sitting next to me. Had I failed to turn the bow into the waves we would have been swamped.
I have learned that this is the only way we can live our lives and survive. We have to face the storms and turbulent waters. We have to enter what at first appears to be a threat to us. Perhaps we are facing difficulties in our marriage, or a potentially deadly disease, or an issue with one of our children. If we turn away from it we will be carried away with it and bring greater harm to ourselves and our loved ones. It is like a wound that if left uncleaned and sterilized could fester and cause deep infection or even gangrene.
The sooner we turn into the turbulence the sooner we can get out of it with less damage than we thought we could avoid. So, if you see clouds on the horizon of your life, get ready. If need be, find someone who will help you turn into the gale and get out of the other side as safely as possible.
Like the psalmist declared, "Even though I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evils for you are with me."
