I soon passed the stand of trees and was once again on the dry sand. The rocky cliff was so close! As I was about to ascend the steep crag, I noticed how jagged the rocks were. I was very thankful at that moment to have my sandals. I quickly threw down my sandals on to the sand and slipped my feet into them. As fast as I could, I started scaling the rocky outpost. I could see mama cow a little distance behind me. I thought, "Can cattle climb cliffs?" As this thought ran through my head, I noticed hoof prints in the dirt. "Oh no! Cattle can and do climb this cliff. I have seen cattle on this point several times, and sometimes they also climb down the cliff on to the on-campus beach! Oh Lord, please give me the strength to keep on climbing. Please keep this beast far away from me!"
When I finally reached the top of the massive rock formation, I immediately traversed the apex and started my descent toward the on-campus beach. As I was weaving my way down between rocks, I could see about 15-20 students happily running and swimming on the on-campus beach. I was elated to see other humans! I was very excited because if I happened to slip and/or fall, someone might see me and rescue me. When I finally jumped down from the bottom of the rocky crag on to the soft sand, I started to jog toward campus. (I did not want to full-out run to prevent any alarm from springing up in my colleagues.) At the end of the beach, there was a small incline which lead to a paved road and some campus housing. When I reached the concrete pavement, I stopped and turned around. As I panted and gasped for breath, I looked back toward the rocky cliff, but I did not see mama cow. A tremendous sense of relief and praise to God filled my soul.
Still spooked by the whole situation, I immediately turned around and started briskly walking back to my dorm room. Every so often, I would quickly glance over my shoulder to make sure mama cow was not behind me. When I reached my dormitory, I slowly ascended the two flights of stairs to my dorm room. A question floated through my head, "Can cattle climb stairs?" I know this was a ridiculous question, and what was even more ridiculous was to think mama cow would track me all through campus and find me at my dorm...but fear was still consuming my thoughts.
When I finally entered my dorm room, I looked over my shoulder one last time to make sure mama cow was not behind me. I then gratefully closed my dorm door. I slung my heavy backpack to the floor and collapsed on to my bed. My body was shaking with fatigue, and excess adrenaline was still coursing through my veins. As I waited for my breathing to slow down, I re-hashed the day's events. I suddenly started to find the humor in it all. While living in Spain, I had wanted to run with the bulls in Pamplona. Unfortunately, I was never able to attend the event. Well, now, as I thought about mama cow chasing me, I suddenly realized I had accomplished one of the things on my bucket list! Although I ran on a beach (and not on the streets on Pamplona) and was chased by a cow (and not a bull), today's events were close enough for me! And oh what an adventure it was! Now, it was time to open up my book bag and start studying.
"Be not far from me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Many bulls have surrounded me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. They open wide their mouth at me, as a ravening and a roaring lion. But You, O LORD, be not far off; O You my help, hasten to my assistance. Deliver my soul from the sword, my only life from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion's mouth; from the horns of the wild oxen You answer me" (Psalm 22:11-13, 19-21).
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