Bears and Prayers

 Bears and Prayers

Nothing improves my prayer life like seeing 3 big piles of bear scat in a tight canyon. Chance and I were going up Jimmy’s Gulch to check the best location for a “fish fence” to keep cattle away from the stream banks along Whites Creek. As we traveled up the gulch we saw many turned over rocks and logs and scat, all evidence of bear activity. The day was beautiful. Spring was late and the new grass was just getting started. We found a good location for one section of drift fence and a possible location for the other. It was time to start back down the canyon. About a third of the way down the gulch Chance jerked to attention. I looked where he was looking and saw a sow black bear and two yearling cubs. They were only about 30 yards away.

I prayed, “Please Lord, don’t let Chance bolt and throw me!”

The sow stood up and woofed. I tried to turn Chance and go slowly back up the hill. He pranced and wanted to run but I held him in. The sow dropped back down and took her cubs up the side hill. Chance and I waited about 5 minutes then went past the site the bears had left. Chance is not usually spooked by bears, but this time they were so close it must have unnerved him.

Psalm 139: verses 1-3 says

Oh Lord you have searched me and know me. You know when I sit and when I rise. You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways.
Thank your Lord for protecting me from the bears, from Chance’s fear and from a fall. I am so glad you are familiar with all my ways.

Amen

Photo at right displays Whites Gulch from the ridge above Johnny’s Gulch. I was too jumpy to get my camera out in time to photograph the bears.