Madison Buffalo Jump

The Madison Buffalo Jump State Park in Southwest Montana is an area which, for centuries, was an established hunting ground for numerous Native American tribes. 

We envision the normal style of hunting; by individuals who stalk or wait quietly for the designated animal, then use a weapon to bring down their game.

Not so at this historic site.

Apparently, certain athletic young men,

who proved themselves through tests of endurance,

were designated as runners. 

Their goal was to stir a herd of buffalo

into a stampede in the direction of the cliff,

where the buffalo would be forced to leap off the edge

and fall to their deaths in the valley below. 

There, in the Madison River valley, a portion of the tribes camped,

ready to prepare the meat.  They dried some for later,

and processed the hides and bones for other uses,

such as blankets, tipis and tools.

Awkward, isn’t it…

bringing up such an uncomfortable and controversial issue.

Some readers may be appalled, and are perhaps

offended by the general topic of hunting.

Some would agree that this could be described as a tragic 

entanglement of animal-like behavior, 

and was, unfortunately, a part of American history.

Some readers may note the efficiency

and resourcefulness of the hunters’ method,

endorsed by the fact that families were fed

and nothing was wasted.

This topic,

not unlike professional sporting events

or political views of our day,

has an underlying potential to agitate strong opinions,

drive emotional wedges, and stimulate heated discussions.

Controversial topics

if allowed to gain momentum,

can become the main agenda,

the compelling force,

the influential power,

a signature conversation piece,

and eventually.… a mark of identity.

“So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him,

went forth and said to them, ‘Whom do you seek?’ 

They answered Him, ‘Jesus the Nazarene.’ 

He said to them, ‘I am He.’…

Simon Peter then, having a sword,

drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear…. 

So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put the sword into the sheath;

the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?’” 

~John 18:4-11

  

As legitimate or factual or important or godly as the topic may seem,

the potential is there to take a good thing,

and run with it.

How easily our zeal for good can overwhelm,

can permeate, can distract from God’s desires for us;

to remain in constant communication with Him,

to hunger and thirst for His Word,

to wait in quiet anticipation for His whisper,

to feel His Spirit’s prompting,

to see His hand at work.

He caused the sun to stand still,

He spoke to the waves, and they became still,

and His command to me is the same…

“’Come, behold the words of the Lord,

Who has wrought desolation in the earth.

He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;

He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;

He burns the chariots with fire.

"'Cease striving and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.’

The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our stronghold.” 

~Psalm 46:8-11