Meet the Road

Reaching the top of a steep incline of rock stairs, they came to a flattened area. “Oh, look, Faye,” Ann said, coming to a halt and taking in some deep breaths. She pointed to a big rock. “Let’s sit down and take in this view for a while.”

In one direction lay a meadow stretching out to a tall, looming cliff, and in the other were what looked like waves of rocky mountains coming toward them. The fall colors of yellow, orange, and red covered the landscape.

After taking a breather, they decided to venture onto another trail that took them into a forestry area. A carpet of deep green moss lay in front of tall trees. The temperature dropped, leading Ann to slip on her windbreaker. They chose a nearby log to sit on and share a snack while the birds serenaded them.

The rustle of fallen leaves caught Ann’s attention. “Do you hear that?” she asked.

The rustle of leaves turned into a shuffling of leaves with an added snorting sound. Both ladies froze. The snorting seemed to be coming from across the path in a heavily wooded and bushy area.

Ann gasped as the source of the snorting came into view. A black bear about four feet tall on all fours was browsing through the vegetation with his brown snout. The ladies looked at each other. “Ann, slowly seal your snack and put it in the backpack,” Faye said.

Ann responded with a whine. The bear looked up just as she finished doing as Faye instructed. He snorted loudly and stomped his paws on the ground, sending dirt and leaves flying behind him.

“OK,” Faye whispered, “that means the bear wants space. Let’s slowly get up and move down the trail.”

“Move down the trail?” Ann responded in a hoarse whisper. “You have got to be kidding.”

The bear again stomped and swung his head back and forth.

“Wait a minute,” Ann whispered. “I don’t need to be afraid of this bear. Jesus has authority over everything in heaven and earth, including this bear. And he has given me that authority.”