Be the Buffallo

Hello! I have been so incredibly busy there has been no time to sit and write. Today is the day.

I am all moved out of the rental and into my new place. I have found the most sincere young man to help me around the property. His name is Ryan and he has already been a huge help installing new light fixtures, helping me move furniture etc. Today we are meeting at noon to plan a shed-build :)

I met his wife Chrissy first at one of the local shops downtown that sells handmade items the first week I arrived in Haines. And then through a strange series of events I met Ryan. These two are quickly becoming some of my favorite people here. He reminds me a lot of my grandson Warren. (Someone helping us unload the UHaul asked if I was his mom. That made me smile.)

Anyway, the last 2 weeks have been an incredible whirlwind! At times, perhaps it even felt like a bit of a storm, but I made it!

I have been working on an outline for a future filming of Better Life Today and one of the things we will talk about is buffalo, and storms. May I share some thoughts with you?

Life is full of storms, right? Challenges, hardships, and trials that test our strength and faith!

When faced with difficulty, my natural instinct is often to run, avoid, or find the easiest way out. I’m just being honest. But what if the best way through the storm is to face it head-on? And, in this regard, I want to be more like the Buffalo!

Do you know how Bisen handle storms?

Unlike most animals that instinctively run away from approaching storms, buffalo do something remarkable, they turn toward the storm and walk straight into it!

It seems so counterintuitive, and yet, it actually helps them get through the storm faster.

Instead of prolonging their suffering by trying to outrun the storm, they push through, shortening the time they spend in the storm.

There is 'lesson' for us here!

Avoiding or resisting challenges often causes those very issues to linger longer than necessary. Facing those challenges directly allows us to work through them more efficiently. Have you discovered this to be true in your own life? I have.

The storm can also refine us.

Just as buffalo develop endurance by facing harsh weather, we grow stronger when we confront our difficulties. Challenges shape us into people of greater wisdom and perseverance; greater faith!

I know in my own life, the longer I run from a storm, the bigger and more intimidating it seems. But when I face it, I often realize I am stronger than I thought. Or, at the very least, “That didn’t hurt as bad as I thought it would.” Difficult seasons have often been the birthplace of new opportunities for me…deeper faith and personal breakthroughs.

We may not see it in the moment, but when we endure, we come out the other side stronger, wiser, and with a more clear sense of purpose.

So, the next time you are faced with a storm, whether it is grief, uncertainty, or hardship of any shape, size and variety...remember the buffalo!

Instead of turning away, face that storm with courage! The storm WILL pass, and on the other side, you will find a stronger, wiser, you.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” Isaiah 43:3 ESV

by Jeanette Stark – Tuesday, March 4, 2025