Out Our Way: Watch for the tail! - Matthew 16:1-3

Out our way, the cattle now grow on what used to be buffalo country. The people came here to hunt the bison - first at the Wahkpa Chu'gn buffalo jump and later on horseback. Indeed, many a battle was fought between competing tribes over access to the bison range in this area.

Today, of course, most of the buffalo are gone. Except for a few hundred on the various reservations up here and some privately owned stock one may find now and again, they're just not around and folks don't know much about them.

Rangers in Yellowstone tell horror stories of incredibly stupid and foolish tourists being hurt or killed by bison because they think they are just "big docile cows."

Now as it happens, years ago when I was pastoring in South Dakota, we took a group of kids on a three-day horseback trail ride along the Missouri near the area where "Dances with Wolves" was shot. One of our hosts actually had raised bison at the time and some of his herd were used in the filming of the movie. Most had been sold off, but about 30 head remained. As we were riding across his huge ranch we came across the remaining "movie stars" and I was given the opportunity to play Kevin Costner and chase them a bit. "But," I was warned, "watch for the tail of the last buffalo." When a bison raises its tail, it is agitated - especially ole Mama Boss Bison. If her tail goes up, look out! 

What a lot of people don't know, me included at the time, is that buffalo are fast. They may be big and look slow, but they are not, and when I started trailing this little band they trotted away at a good clip, leaving me in the dust. Indeed I had to break into a canter to catch up. And then I saw it. Mama Boss Buffalo's tail shot up. I took the hint and reined in - which was a good thing, because in addition to being big and fast, a buffalo can turn on a dime. One minute I am chasing her tail and the next I am facing her horns. Believe me, an irritated buffalo is not something to mess with! Reined in tight and came to a screeching halt. She was still about 50 yards away and, after swinging her horns in a threatening manner and snorting her displeasure at my intrusion, she decided I had gotten the message, turned back to her herd and moved off. I did not follow. I am grateful I knew the signs of the times and heeded the warning, for there was little doubt of the disaster I was headed for if I had not done so.

It seems to be a common theme for me these days, but I keep seeing "signs of the times" Christ warned us about. No, I am not suggesting the second coming is next week as some snake oil preachers like to do - for even Jesus did not not know when He would return (Matthew 24:36) but I am suggesting it may be getting close. Certainly the evil, corruption and immorality that is now so prevalent and accepted (Isaiah 5:20) cannot be denied. The "tail" is going up, beloved!

I will be the first to note that, historically, our times of evil and despair are not all that different from many times in the past. The world did not end and Christ did not physically return. But He did come through the Spirit and the world was changed. Empires self-destructed, tyrants were toppled, false gods - mostly in the form of foolish and harmful pop culture - were exposed and eventually rejected. We are at the start of a new cycle of idolatry, self-deception, and spiritual blindness. The "tail is up" for those who have eyes to see. Many will not heed the warnings of "the signs of the times" and blindly race into disaster. They will ignore the signs and charge into "mama cow bison's horns."

Many ... but not all. Some will see and heed the warning. When the carnage is finished, they will be the ones to rebuild and start over.

Jesus is coming again. When, I don't dare predict. If even He did not know, who am I to pretend I do? But the signs of the times are clear and based on history I know He has never left us. He has not come in the clouds with angels of glory all about just yet, but He has been here - is here now - and will continue to be here via the Holy Spirit. Hitlers and Stalins and Maos will arise, and they will seek to replace God. And many will bow down before them to worship and serve them. Many. But not all. In every age there have also been those who refuse to bend the knee, and historically, although many of them have paid a terrible price for their faithfulness, in the end they have prevailed. Some have seen the tail raised and understood the "signs of the time." Some ignore it and ride to theirs and their neighbor's destruction. Some pay attention and save the world.

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Brother John

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The Rev. John Bruington is the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He now lives in Colorado, but continues to write "Out Our Way." He can be reached for comment or dialogue at [email protected].