As you probably know, thousands of bison once roamed the plains of North America. In the late 1800s they were almost brought to extinction. Thankfully, due to conservation efforts, bison are back in the United States plains – even if they aren’t nearly as ubiquitous as they once were.
You probably also know that bison are the largest mammals in North America. Male bison (called bulls) can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and stand 6 feet tall, while females (called cows) weigh up to 1,000 pounds and can reach a height of 4-5 feet. Bison calves weigh 30-70 pounds at birth. These are large and powerful creatures.
But even though bison are formidable, the plains can still be dangerous. Their main predators are wolves and mountain lions (what we in the west call cougars), who prey on the weak and the slow – like young bison. Bison typically run when they sense danger, but when predators approach without warning, bison form a multilayer circle of protection. The cows form a ring around the young, and the bulls form an outer ring surrounding the cows.
Just picture this for a moment. A wolf is coming … the bison cannot run anywhere. And instantly, instinctively, they corral their young in the middle, the females encircle the young, and the males encircle the females. The two rings facing outward. It is a pretty powerful picture. The bison community automatically protects those who cannot protect themselves.
May I ask why we, as humans, seem to do a worse job of protecting the vulnerable than bison? We know God’s imperative from Genesis to Revelation. I mean, who did the prophets cry out for? The laborer, the prisoner, the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, the enslaved, the marginalized. Who did Jesus heal? The blind, the deaf, the paralyzed, the bleeding, the possessed, the outcast, the sinner, the forgotten. Again and again, God calls for each beloved person to be held safe – to be provided for and protected – and, when necessary, for those able, to encircle those who are defenseless, especially those society has called expendable.
This is the call God places on each of us – to protect and care for the most vulnerable. Yet, we are witnessing and experiencing the opposite in our society and through government actions. Beloveds in Christ, do not be deceived. When food assistance and benefits are slashed, the vulnerable are left defenseless. When rights are stripped away from women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, and others, they are being cast to the wolves. Jesus himself warns in Matthew 7, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
As followers of Jesus, in these times that may bring discouragement or a sense of being overwhelmed, in these times when it feels wolves are coming at you or for someone you love, may you feel encircled in love and protection – even as you are called to encircle others. May we advocate, love boldly, and protect those who are most at risk. Let us take heart in the promise of God’s justice and mercy. Let us be a people who uplift the weary, feed the hungry, and shelter the displaced. May we be a church that embodies Christ’s compassion and courage, refusing to look away, refusing to be silent, refusing to let the wolves win. For all people are beloved in God’s eyes.
I close with this. I have a little miniature bison on my desk in my office. I look at it often to remember that I am protected by God and that I am called by God. May you remember – as a baptized and beloved child of God, God has called you in this time and in this place. And you are not alone. For even as you protect others, God protects you. Amen.
Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee
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