Miracle at Hualapai Ranch

I try to keep my eyes open to miracles everyday because as a Christian I know life is full of them. We have only to keep our eyes open and learn to recognize the presence of God and his angels working all around and through us. Too much goes unnoticed by the skeptical, the lazy and the spiritually near-sighted. My own sight became keener after I began to notice how I was somehow saved from so many instances where I could have met with grave injury, serious disease or death. And every time I realized how close I came to being hurt or killed, I would look deep within myself and thank God for the miracle.

Recently, while on a weekend holiday with my husband, Lee, at Grand Canyon West, we decided to take advantage of a free horseback ride at Hualapai Ranch where we were staying. It had been decades since my last horseback ride and so the cowgirl who was assisting us, chose me a nice tame greyish white mare named "Frosty." Hoisting myself up onto the horse made me nervous as I sat and followed the cowgirl's instructions on how to use Frosty's reins to control her for our 90 minute ride. I petted Frosty's mane while we waited in the center of the corral for Lee to mount his selected horse.

"Alright, Lee? I think we can put you on "Hombre." The cowgirl pointed to a blackish colored horse harnessed to one of the wooden pillars of the corral we were in. As Lee made his way over to Hombre, something scary happened. The cowgirl began to put the bridle on Hombre, who apparently was in no mood to ride anyone. He rebelled, jerking and pulling. A cowboy standing close by came to help and somehow spooked the agitated horse. I heard Hombre grunt angrily and began kicking his legs violently at the wide, wooden post before him, his head pulling hard on his bridle and the rope tied to the fencepost.

"Whoa!" the cowboys yelled out in unison as they tried to calm the frightened animal. Hombre bucked and pulled as if someone had taken a hot branding iron to his flesh. Lee got away from him quickly and stood a safe distance away, watching the animal rip out the wire fencing and literally pull out the wooden post from the ground. It seemed to dangle mid-air effortlessly, still attached to the twisted wired fence that would not release the horse.

My heart began to beat fast as I held on tightly to the saddle horn of my horse who was facing away from all the excitement. If Frosty gets spooked because of Hombre, who is close by... I tensed up and slowly urged Frosty further away from the struggling dark Hombre. I prayed that Frosty wouldn't look, would get spooked. I hoped I would be able to control her well enough if she did. I have heard of people being thrown by horses and ending up in the hospital or worse.

For almost 10 minutes, Hombre continued to fight his ropes to free himself unsuccessfully. "Go get the Colonel!" ordered the cowgirl. The cowboy nodded and ran for help while she hurried over to me and Frosty, helped me down and got me safely out of the corral. After several attempts to break free, Hombre fell, sitting unnaturally on the ground, still tied to the twisted wire fencing. Several cowboys came running and slowly took advantage of the worn-out, helpless horse sitting on the ground. One of the men managed to finally free Hombre from the fence. The horse managed to get on his feet and calmly allowed the cowboy to lead him out of the corral.

Lee got another horse and I got back on Frosty. Our ride through the desert with our guide was breathtaking. Our horses followed docilely and the majesty of the Grand Canyon was revealed as we meandered slowly along the rim to get photographs. On our ride back to the ranch, we guided our horses towards the corral and I smiled at the wooden posts as my imagination went to work, creating cowboy angels, white winged but wearing cowboy garb, sitting on the flat posts and standing around the horses there. Wearing cowboy hats, a couple stroked and spoke softly at the horses while they all waited for us to enter the corral to dismount. Our trip could have ended tragically, but it did not. Someone could have gotten hurt, but no one did. God and the good people of Hualapai Ranch were in control and made sure our trip ended pleasantly.

Many who read this story may not see this as anything miraculous, but in a world filled with so many disasters, wars, tragedies and crime, I find it very hard not to feel blessed that I did not end up another grim story for television news. There is so much pain and death in this world and the news is full of such reports. We take so much for granted and become complacent until something terrible happens to us or our loved ones. Miracle or not, this event makes me feel very blessed and hope this inspires others to open their eyes at such "near misses" and see them for what they are: God and his angels stepping in to help or protect. And to me, those are always miracles.