Facing The Storms

When I was a youngster I spent some time living and working on my Uncle Jim's dairy farm in New York State. During that time I got to be good friends with some of his Holstein cattle. I helped raise the calves, feeding them several times each day. I fed and milked the dairy herd twice a day, and I had other opportunities to get to know these animals. Frankly, I was never very impressed with their intelligence. They were generally nice animals. They never turned mean or tried to do bad things, but they just didn't seem too bright. Now, that's not intended to demean these wonderful animals. They have provided one of nature's great foods for children and adults for many centuries. I always enjoy being around dairy cows. Their curiosity is often fun to watch and they exhibit playfulness from time to time.

I guess there are some significant differences between various types of cows. An old cowboy is reported to have said that he learned one of life's most important lessons from Hereford cows. All of his life he had worked on various cattle ranches. It was not uncommon for winter storms to take a heavy toll among the herds. Freezing rains whipped across the wide open prairies. Howling bitter cold winds piled snow into enormous drifts. Temperatures often dropped well below the zero mark on the thermometer. Flying ice cut into the flesh, causing pain as well as open wounds. In these situations it was common for most cattle to turn their backs to the wind and slowly drift downwind, mile upon mile. Finally, they would be stopped by a fence of one sort or another. They would pile up against the fence and die by the scores.

But the Herefords acted differently. This breed would instinctively head into the wind. There they would stand shoulder to shoulder, with their heads down, facing the onslaughts. "You almost never found a dead
Hereford after a storm," the old cowboy said. "I guess that's one of the greatest lesson I ever learned on the prairies - just face life's storms."

I believe that the cowboy is right. When we are confronted by a difficult situation, or when we find ourselves facing a loss that is overwhelming, or when we experience pain which threatens to undo us, it is
often in our own best interest to face the storm, rather than to retreat from it. Persons who are involved in grief counseling have been saying this for years. When we avoid dealing with a great loss, we often create
new problems which will resurface in years to come, with much more significant pain and power than would have been the case had we faced the loss when it happened.

I don't know what kind of storms you are facing in your life, but, I do know that you will be better off if you face those storms and deal with them, so that you can get by them and get on with your life. Running away from our problems always leads to more problems in the future. I remind you that God is with you as you go through this day. Together, you can face anything that comes your way. Don't be afraid. Face the storms with confidence. The pain will only last a short time. The victory will last a lifetime.

Dr. David L. Glusker