My companions and I decided that today's activity would be a drive to Beaufort and a ferry over to one of the islands that are a part of the Southern Outer Banks. There we would see the wild horses of North Carolina, credited with tracing their DNA back 450 years. Though the charge for the excursion was a bit costly, the adventurer in each of us was game. (and besides... the cost included a special bag for shelling on the deserted beach.)
We drove 20 miles or so to the dock, arriving in time to meet our tour guide, Larry, who retired to the island 10 years ago and vowed he'd never leave. Confronted now with the reality of the trip, I then asked, "Do you think I'll be o.k.?" I had been struggling with a flare up of arthritis and being a bit stiff was not as nimble as usual. "Sure", Larry said. "After all, I am 71 years old, so I go slow. Besides, I only have one lung. Just be sure to wear your sunscreen. The sun is hotter than you think out here."
Thus assured, we continued to enjoy the perfect day, not too hot too cold; gentle breeze blowing. At the appointed time we bought our tickets and got on board with about a dozen other hardy souls, armed only with sunscreen, sunshades, a bottle of water, a camera and of course our "special" non-recyclable plastic bags from various stores in the area. We were warned, once aboard, that there might be "a little ocean spray" as we went over to the islands and if anyone was "made out of sugar" they might like to leave now. Foolishly undaunted, we all laughed, seeing ourselves as tougher than that.
However, out in the sound, we were told to cover all electronics. Then the boat picked up speed and the waters were very choppy. We all got drenched! Water splashed our arms, legs, hair and face. By now one child clung to her mom, another whispered, "I don't think this is a spray." By journey's end, every stitch of clothing was soaked. "Hey, that wasn't ocean spray; that was a baptism!"
When we arrived at the island, we began to sense that we were in trouble when the captain nonchalantly said, "I think the best way to get off is to sit on the edge and slide off...a drop of more than a foot. This said, as the boat continued to pitch and buck, like one of the wild horses we imagined we'd see.
My friends, younger and quicker than I, went on ahead. As I gathered myself to stand, I was horrified to see one of them lying at the foot of the boat. As the captain just stood and looked, others of the passengers and her two friends, rushed over with concern. Meanwhile the boat continued to advance upon her. "I heard something pop", she said. This was confirmed by an EMT that God had secreted among the passengers. He tried to help and bravely by God's grace and sheer will power, she stood. "I'm o.k.", she said, as she dusted sand off and stood.
Since the show must go on, the tour guide gave instructions and set off, as if falling off a boat was routine., Within minutes Larry's "slow" pace had me wheezing and struggling to keep up. Eventually, bent over coughing, I waved the group on and decided that I could see what appeared to be horses in the distance just fine. "Get good pictures," I said to my compadres hopefully. Larry yelled back,"Go to the ye low pole, the ferry will return at 11:15. Looking at my watch I saw that it was only 8:45 on an island with no bathrooms, no vendors and no benches to sit on to wait. I could stand and look at the water or pick up a few shells in my nifty bag or I could set out, like pioneers before me,going it alone-at my own pace. I chose the latter, singing a song that had stuck in my mind on my 14 hour drive to N.C. from MO..."all things are pos-si-ble for me..."
So one foot in front of the other, my eye on the group about a half mile ahead, I persevered and finally made it! I stood with the group, among the herd as they enjoyed a short talk and photo opportunities. This herd consisted of the dominant stallion, a colt and a few mares. We quietly took pictures until the stallion became uncomfortable and decided to move the group on. One mare, very pregnant and lying flat on her side as if dead, was reluctant to let go of her grassy knoll. It wasn't until the stallion flattened his ears back and bared his teeth that she struggled to get up, knowing that the next move would be a bite on her bottom.
Knowing that this phase of the trip was over, we asked what was next. Larry said, "I am going to take you up on the highest point on the island. The view is spectacular, but don't worry; it's not too steep too climb" "Yeah, right," I thought cynically. This time reason won out and my injured friend, 2 others on the excursion and I decided to be satisfied with what we had already experienced and we set off for the yellow pole.
We shelled a bit, put our feet in the water, and took more pictures, some of which I hope you will enjoy in the slide show. Eventually, our friends returned, as did the ferry. Adrienne, the one who finished the course set out before her, said she had walked about" 3 1/2 miles and that the climb to the view was steep and narrow.We had made a good decision.
This time upon his return, the captain had a ladder, the waters were not as choppy and the ride was not as wet. We got back without incident, satisfied that we had had an adventure, made many memories and would probably do it again.
Upon reflection, I decided that:
Age is just a number. Larry's "71" didn't mean the same to him as to me. He was fit and active, able to take large dunes with a single climb.
Injury, disease and disability have as much to do with the courage of the person,the support they receice and God's grace as it does with the type and severity of the condition.
As for the wild horses, they were wild in that they were natives of the island, unchanged for 450 years. They had not accepted the bridle of domestication and pretty much lived life on their own terms, driven by their appetites and the world around them.Their behavior was motivated by hunger, power plays of the stallions, sex, the environment and fear.
For whatever reason, I thought of Jeremiah 2:23-25, where God compared His people to wild animals , doing their own thing, driven by passion-seeking satisfaction from false gods and rejecting fellowship with their loving Creator.
Every since the Fall in the Garden, mankind, like the horses, has had a wild streak. We too, can be isolated, unprotected, unpredictable, pushed and pulled by the "cares of the world and the lusts of the eye"- doing our own thing. Yet our Father has not been content with leaving us in our natural state, but drew us to Himself with cords of love. He has offered us grace, love and security through His Son who died for us. Praise God for Jesus! Because of Him, we can have joy, love and peace. He will take care of us and guide us beside still waters. He will comfort our souls. Because of Him we are no longer isolated, alienated and left to go it alone. He raises us as His own, lovingly cared for and we are no longer "wild".
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