The excited helper from Yellowstone National Park with the great tan was done talking about God-Connections in Yellowstone National Park. She was putting her papers in her backpack when she happened to drop a piece of paper. The teacher picked it up, looked briefly at it, and asked the helper to explain the piece of paper. The helper said that it was instructions about what a person should do if they encountered a moose while hiking in the park. There are more moose in the park than there are bears or wildcats, and it is not uncommon to find a moose when hiking in the wilderness of the park.
Most wild animals will run away if they hear or smell a human coming, but a moose will not run away, so it is important to know what to do if you encounter a moose!
Moose Safety Summary
Pay attention to where you are, if you are near trees or a body of water there could be moose nearby.
If the moose has not noticed you, stay at least 25 yards from the moose and keep walking, unless your trail goes toward the moose. If you trail goes toward the moose, turn around and go back the way you came. Do not go close to a moose!
If the moose notices you, talk to it. Keep your voicer soft and calm. Keep your distance. If your trail goes away from the moose, continue hiking the trail. If your trail goes toward the moose, turn around and go back! Always stay at least 25 yards from the moose.
Never act aggressively toward a moose! Do not yell at the moose, wave your arms, or make other loud noises.
If the moose looks angry (ears laid back) and looks like it might charge you, run or hide behind a large tree or rock!
Do not stand your ground against an angry moose! RUN!
Most of the time a moose will not actually attack a person if they run away, the moose just wants the person to leave the area.
If the moose does attack, or if you fall while running away, curl into a ball and protect your head and neck with your arms. The moose will likely go away if it feels the threat is gone.
A moose will not eat you! They eat plants only!
Application for you and me:
The teacher was excited after reading the paper about Moose Encounters! The leader could see a God-Connection! Moose Encounters can be compared to Temptation Encounters.
When a person encounters a temptation to sin, it is best to stay away from it, just like it is best to stay away from a wild moose! If the temptation is coming after you, run from it just like you would run from a moose that was coming after you!
In the Bible in II Timothy 2:22 it says:
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
When running from an angry moose, a person should look for shelter behind a large rock or a large tree. When running from temptation to sin, a person should look to Jesus for shelter from the temptation.
In the Bible in Hebrews 2:18 it says:
Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.
Also in the Bible in Psalms 18:2 it says:
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior; my God is my rock in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
If a person falls when running from an angry moose, they are to curl into a ball and protect their head. When dealing with temptation to sin, a person also needs to have their head protected and they need to defend themselves! The essential part of protecting your head is to ask Jesus to come into your life and forgive your sins, and your defense is knowing and applying the Word of God (the Bible)!
In the Bible in Ephesians 6:17 is says:
Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
The best way to avoid an encounter with a moose is to pay attention to where you are and not go near the moose! The best way to avoid many temptations is to be careful what we allow into our minds. If we spend our time involved in watching videos or playing games that are not wholesome, then we will have many more temptations to sin. We need to fill our minds with good things!
In the Bible in Philippians 4:8 it says:
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
And always remember that there will be times when we fall to temptation and sin, but Jesus is still right there loving us and ready to forgive us.
In the Bible in Hebrews 4:14-15 it says:
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet He did not sin.
Also in the Bible in I John 1:9 it says:
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.