Out Our Way: Dumber than coyotes

Zechariah 9:9-16

Out our way, most cattle now graze in fenced in pastures, and while not 100% free of predators, by and large the coyotes and lions in the area tend to steer clear. I have had run-ins with both over the years and found they have learned to respect humans.

I have shared before my time riding in the sandhills of Wyo-Braska - the area where the Nebraska panhandle meets the eastern edge of Wyoming. I used to ride at the Empire ranch which was on both sides of the state line. Cecil, the owner, was telling me about finding fresh paw prints of a lion in the hills as well as numerous coyote sightings. Given that in addition to cattle and horses, he also ran flocks of sheep, his spread was vast with many acres out of sight and quite distant from the ranch house. 

I asked him if there were so many predators in the area if he was concerned. He said that by and large the predators left his flocks and herds alone. I asked him why, and he said, "Because they aren't stupid!"  

He went on to tell me how he had once run into a band of coyotes while checking the fence at the east end of his ranch and they had crowded around a bit. So the next time he was out in the area, he carried a Winchester and the same coyotes spotted him but also the saddle gun - and kept out of rifle range. Although he never needed to pull the rifle out of the scabbard, they were smart enough to back off. As far as I know, that lion - like the two I ran into in the Bear Paws - did the same.

Today - and every day of late - we read of people in the Middle East, Europe, and in our own country who want to kill Jews and destroy Israel. This is nothing new, as one can easily discover if they read the scripture. There have always been powerful enemies of Israel bent on her destruction and the annihilation of her people. And they have always failed.

Some read this passage of Zechariah as a prophecy of Armageddon. Certainly his prophecy of the attacks by enemies who would not only fail but be eventually destroyed themselves has proven true over and over again. Although not a prophet, the philosopher Geroge Santayana noted something to the effect: Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. But each time it grows worse, it seems. We are in the age of true world war and of unprecedented ignorance and arrogance in terms of culture.

And I think of riding with Cecil as he taps his Winchester and points at the coyotes backing off at the point where Cecil will draw and fire ... read Zechariah ... and then think of the folks who keep pushing for Israel's annihilation: Are they really dumber than coyotes?

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].