King's Corner: Sudden Surprises

King's Corner column for July 4, 2025

Rocky Mountain National Park in north-central Colorado is often nicknamed Estes Park, as that’s the town at the eastern entrance. The Continental Divide runs directly through the center, as do the headwaters of the Colorado River, defining the beginning of “the west”. With its wooded forest and mountain tundra, it’s a rugged, wild and beautiful area, especially in late summer.

When my dad, Robert ‘Mark’ King, was in his late teens he rode through there by motorcycle, winding his way toward Wyoming where fall harvest work was just a few weeks away. He made regular, random stops in the middle of nowhere just to enjoy the beauty and the solitude of nature.

One stop was about to show another side of nature.

Where a peak gently sloped into a meadow he pulled off the dirt road, parked, leaned against the motorcycle’s seat and smoked a cigarette as he watched a few bison – most would call them buffalo – grazing below. At this time most plains bison were living in national parks, and getting to see the recovering population was a treat. By this time in the season they had their light brown summer coat, each were about 12’ long by 6’ high, and each weighed up to 3000 lbs.

After a while he could hear a distant thundering sound but could see nothing. Then, pouring over the hill behind him, came a charging herd of bison, filling the horizon to either side. He had no place to go and no time to move, and they were headed right for him.

Mark made the decision not to move, to see if they would pass him by. They slowed, and then surrounded him, pressing up against him like one might a curiosity that you want to check out more closely. By the time they came to a halt they were pressing up against him and his motorcycle on all sides. He held on to the bike, struggled to keep it upright, and watched very carefully where his feet were compared to their hooves.

Once they’d surrounded him as far as he could see in any direction, they all stood there pressing up against him, each of them standing near his height and many times his weight. Those close to him looked straight at him, pondering what they’d discovered. None of them acted like they had plans to move anytime soon.

How many times in life have we been suddenly ambushed by circumstances we could never see coming? Where we just happened to be standing in a certain place at the moment we never saw coming? When life suddenly surrounded us, pressed in, left no room to move, and whatever might happen next seemed out of our control?

How have you prepared for moments like these? What life lessons can you draw upon that may not seem obvious at first but could give you a key to responding? One might be to remember that no matter how much pressure surrounds you, it’s still your response that matters most.

There are times when reaching out to God seems a natural response, even if you haven’t talked with him for a while. God may not always deliver you from the immediate circumstances, but he could give you the peace and courage to get through whatever comes next.

While some moments won’t change unless you – or God – do something, others simply require you to steadily ride it out and wait for change. The pressure you didn’t invite may not stay around if you can patiently hold on in the meantime.

Mark remembered that bison are essentially just big cattle. He’s worked with cattle, caring for them and herding them. He reminded himself that unless they’re suddenly spooked they behave. So he prayed for patience, personal safety, and no surprises. And despite the urge for another cigarette he thought better of lighting up right then.

Eventually some at the edge of the herd began to wander onto finding other grass. After a while there was some movement around him, and they carefully passed to either side like a stream might around a rock. And then at the front they picked up speed and soon all the remaining ones were charging off to some distant horizon.

Two hours after he’d pulled over to admire nature, he was alone again. Every bit of the ground around him had hoof marks, but he and his motorcycle were untouched. They’d been breathing down his neck, sniffing his clothing, rubbing up against both he and his bike, but had done no harm. They just left him with a vivid memory and profound respect.

Life is going to put us under pressure. Even the good and beautiful circumstances that smile at us can suddenly bare their teeth and threaten to bite. When that happens, look inside for the resources and abilities you might not realize you have. Look to God to guide you through and enable you to trust him and learn from this time. Then, once you’ve come through, look back and learn.

And remember with respect that you’ve emerged intact, with your story to share.