October 14th, 2006
For my first official blog entry, I will tell you about my day today. I drove down to the Wichita Mountains in southern Oklahoma to enjoy the beautiful fall weather and to get out of the city.  I tried to get people from this area to go with me, but all the people I know from church were doing a service project together, and all the guys at work were going to the Oklahoma vs. Iowa State football game.  So I went by myself.

I wasn't sad about this at all. I had great music to sing along with and plenty of friends to call while I drove to the Wichita's. I stopped by the visitor center once I got there to find out what would be a good "mountain" to climb. They made some suggestions and also informed me that I could also pull my car off the road and just hike up any hill that looked good to me. I thought that was cool, and figured I would try to get some cool pictures taken while I was at it.

Not far down the road I saw a large group of buffalo grazing near the road. There were other people parked and taking pictures so I thought I would too. I had on my AWESOME new hiking boots so I will admit I was feeling a bit invincible. I walked right across the road and up to the buffalos and started shooting pictures. This lasted a few minutes and I kept getting closer and closer to them to try to get a cool shot. 

     

Well, I noticed suddenly that two big buffalos were coming over towards me with a funny look in their eye. I kept shooting pictures until the big one about 15' in front of me pawed the ground a few times and then charged at me. I think he actually wanted to stick me with his big horns or something! This took me totally by surprise because I was in a public place, and these things looked like cows (kind of), and I just was not expecting to be facing any danger that moment. I almost ran, but from the pace he was coming at me, I knew I would be a goner in just a few steps. So I acted on instinct and yelled at him like a dog.


~~ This is the actual charging buffalo - before I realized he was charging at ME! ~~

"STOP!" I cried. "NO! Stay!" And amazingly he stopped. I immediately noticed that someone was yelling at me. I thought it was a kind person coming to rescue me from this crazy buffalo, but instead it was the park ranger. Apparently he was very angry at me for being stupid enough to walk right next to a big old buffalo. I could understand his frustration with my stupidity. I was still in shock that this animal had just tried to kill me. I was slowly backing away from the buffalo - while making sure it didn't come at me with another charge - and this park ranger is yelling at me, "You wanna get yourself gored???"

Now, I understand that I acted like an ignorant city person by walking around wild animals and putting myself in a dangerous situation. And it took me quite a while to relax after the situation sunk in. But my honest first reaction was to be pretty ticked off at this park ranger. Yes - I was the stupid one. I know that. But I found it entirely unhelpful for him to continue to follow me as I walked back to my car, yelling "You wanna get yourself gored???" over and over. Finally I stopped and looked him in the eye and explained that I did not, in fact, want to get myself gored.

What an awful way to start my day at the park. But it went beautifully after that. I was quite shaken up for a while as I realized how seriously hurt I could have gotten if that buffalo had not been so intimidated by my yelling voice. And then I thought about what kind of person WOULD choose to die at the horns of a buffalo.  It would definately be a unique way to go.

 

 

*********************************************
*********************************************

October 28th, 2006
This was my third weekend in a row that I spent out of the city, in search of a mountain to climb and adventure to discover. It was another amazing day for me. I set out to climb the third highest peak in Oklahoma: the Antelope Hills. It was a beautiful autumn day in the mid-70’s. I wasn’t able to find out exactly where the Antelope Hills are when I was planning my trip online, but I wasn’t worried. I figured I would head in the general direction and watch for them on the horizon.

As I drove I was listening to my favorite music, singing and praising as I drove. For several hours I was able to just enjoy the day and spend time with God. My heart just comes alive on these types of days. I feel more aware of everything around me and somehow feel God's love pressing in on me during these times of peace, worship, and contentment. These moments are so important to me because they remind me of what life CAN feel like when I get away from my small life filled primarily with work and home all week long. Getting away makes my life feel BIG and in proper perspective.

I thought of an analogy while I drove. Many people suffering with an addiction, such as smoking, will deny it by saying, “I can quit any time I want to…. I just don’t want to right now.” I have lived in Oklahoma City for over a year now, but only recently have I begun to discover the beauty of my new home state. Living in the city, with a routine centered on a job, is like an unhealthy addiction to living in a rut. Maybe we all think we could be free if we wanted to…. but I think it is very important to PROVE it sometimes. I felt so free today. Every weekend when I leave the city it really does feel like I’m coming alive – and I want to keep feeling that way.

It’s not that the city is always bad, and the country is always good. I think it’s different for all of us. There are places where everyone feels closer to God and there are stages of life where we all get into a rut and stop being really ALIVE. And I think that most of the time we don’t even realize what we’re missing. We’re so used to our life in a rut that we think that is normal and maybe even how God intended it.  We have fogotten how much greener the grass really is on the other side.   We just have to wake up and cross the street!

(by the way: I didn't edit this picture to make a point -- it really did look like this)


As I drove around today looking for the Antelope Hills, I went through many very very small towns and saw many beautiful sights: bright golden leaves everywhere and countless loan rusty windmills in the middle of pastures, with farmers out working in the distance. It was a great day. I eventually saw the Hills off in the distance and headed toward them. I got off the paved roads and continued toward them on gravel and then old dirt roads. Unfortunately the roads never took me to the Hills. I slowly drove all the way around them without ever being able to get to them. I took pictures from every angle as I drove, and about two hours later I ended up all the way around them in a tiny town about 30 miles north of my destination.


   

I stopped at the local restaurant / gas station and everyone was very helpful in giving me directions and a free map of Oklahoma. They told me that they didn’t think you could climb the Antelope Hills, and one older man suggested I stop by his relative’s house near the Hills. He told me they are always happy to have company, and I should drop on by for lunch. I thanked them for their help and left with good directions for both the Antelope Hills and the old man’s uncle’s house.



    

I climbed up the highest Antelope Hill and it was pretty cool to finally get on top of the hill I had been looking at all day long from every angle. The rock climbing at the top was a little scary, but once I was up the view was definitely worth it.

           

When I was ready to drive home I stayed on the back roads as long as I could. I saw a heard of real antelope, cotton fields in bloom, and many other small details that made the day special.

            

I made a point to stop at every recreation area along the way. I found one that had a small lake that was very pretty. I even caught a heron in flight. It was an amazing day. If it has been a long time since you set out for a day of adventure, maybe you should give it a try. Make sure you're not addicted to life’s ruts by PROVING you can leave them behind for a day!