Do you enjoy climbing boulders or large rocks? My kids love finding boulders here in the Rocky Mountains to climb. This week, as we were hiking, they began climbing a boulder right next to the trail. One of my sons walked around toward the back of the boulder and heard rustling in the bushes when, a few feet from him, a massive bull moose rose to its feet! My son exclaimed, “Moose!” to warn the others, and all four backed away quickly and returned to my husband, friend, and me.
I was very grateful my children knew what to do when they unexpectedly found themselves within feet of a large, aggressive animal. As we kept a safe distance, the moose felt unthreatened and made its way across the trail and into the meadow, where we watched it graze.
A few days later, my son had a school presentation due and wrote about how to stay safe when encountering a moose in the wild. He was able to share his story and what he has learned. Knowing how wild animals behave, being aware of our surroundings, and remaining calm can help us enjoy God’s creation without fear.
Imagine if my son had not warned his siblings or had not retreated quickly—or, worse, had tried to get an even closer look. We could have been in a bad situation. Whenever we sense danger—whether from a wild animal or from sin or a bad idea—we can remain calm and retreat to safety. We can also warn others of danger.
Proverbs 22:3 (NCV) says, “The wise see danger ahead and avoid it, but fools keep going and get into trouble.”
What are some ways you can prepare to spot danger and retreat to safety? You can hike confidently as you learn how to identify potentially dangerous animals, and what to do if a storm rolls in or you run out of water. And you can stay safe from sin or unwise ideas as you memorize God’s Word and spend time in prayer. Think of one way you can prepare to be safe and prepared both in nature and your walk of faith, and practice it this week.
