BEASTS OF WISDOM

The young man’s face was flickering orange and red from the illumination of the flame on the wax candle just inches from his face. He stared out across a smattering of people of all ages and skin tones packed together in little groups around the brightly decorated room. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES was spelled out across a banner on the other end of the long room.

“Make a wish. Make a wish...” The crowd chanted as the young man closed his eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the warm air coming off of the candle in front of him. Just like in the chute.

“Hold on tight! HOLD ON TIGHT, James!” the young man could hear his father yelling as he felt his hand squish tighter between the rope and hide of the beast below him. He heard his father counting down from three, and the moment he hit one the wall gave away next to him as he felt the rage below him come unbridled as it exited the small space and carried him off in some unknown direction.

He could smell the putrid odor of manure in the warm air as he took in the sounds of the crowd around him. His training kicked in and he gripped his heels tight around the sides of the engine beneath him as it approached the peak of an arc and started back toward the Earth. He braced for impact as it made contact and reversed direction once again.

The pattern continued as young James found the rhythm and tried to lock into the groove. He gripped the rope in his hand as tight as he could and threw his other arm up into the wind as loose as possible. “Find the rhythm, settle into the groove, go with the flow,” James repeated to himself over and over in his head.

The direction shifted unexpectedly and he found himself caught off guard. His legs were slipping from around the belly of this beast and the buzzer still hadn’t gone off. He tried to pull himself back down with his roped hand when felt his momentum pull him along as the creature reached the peak of its arc once more but he couldn’t catch his grip as he slid away from the beast.

James slammed his fist down against the ground and jumped up as quickly as he could as the sound of the audience came flooding back in. The field was rushed by handlers to calm the bull while James was escorted out of the corral. He glanced at the clock on the scoreboard as the booming sound of the announcer came over the speaker. “Looks like James is down to one last shot at securing his spot in the finals. That 3.67-second ride isn’t doing him any favors, but he should be able to lock himself in for 3RD position if he sticks it out for the full 8 seconds on his final run.”

“What happened?!” James’ father asked in the locker room. “Did you feel the rhythm?”

“Yes. I felt the rhythm. I was bouncing along and then everything suddenly shifted.”

“You weren’t locked in. You didn’t catch the wave. It isn’t enough to just find the rhythm.”

“I know that dad! I was trying. It’s hard to be entertaining AND stay on a creature that doesn’t want me there. I tried but maybe I’m not cut out for this.”

“James. Don’t talk like that. This sport is about more than just bouncing up and down. It’s about more than entertaining the audience. This sport is about life.”

“What does that even mean? Not everyone can ride a bull.”

“James. Life comes with a lot of ups and downs. It comes with expectations and conflict. Personal growth and personal hell. Unexpected surprises and expected letdowns. You don’t have control over the world and the external forces that will shape your days. Life is a real beast, and I want you to be prepared for that. Because if you can find the rhythm of life and lock into that groove, those external forces mean nothing. You can handle the left turns and unexpected surprises because you are in stride with the beast, not just a passenger.

I love bull riding, and the rodeo, and the showmanship of it all. But that is just how I understand things. You have to find your own rhythm and lock into it because it won’t be long before you are your own man and have to make your own decisions. So if you don’t want to ride bulls anymore, that’s fine. But you aren’t going to quit in the middle of a competition. We can handle that tomorrow, but today you have to get out there and find that rhythm one last time. Remember, control what you can and relax. You’ll be great.”

James looked his father in the eye after a moment’s pause. “I can do that.”

James and his father shared a hug before they exited the locker room. James could feel the weight of his father’s hand on his shoulder as they navigated the hallways of fencing toward the staging area. He climbed the rails up to the top of the fence just in time to see a chute fly open as another rider held on for dear life.

Moments later the buzzer echoed around the arena and the audience roared to life as the rider rolled off the creature and made his way toward the edge of the corral. “You’re up next” James heard come from behind him as the announcer’s muddled voice came over the speaker again.

“Looks like James is back for his final qualifying ride. He didn’t quite make it halfway through the last one, but he’s been a strong competitor up to this point and there is still a spot for him in the finals if he can hold on for 8 precious seconds.”

James tossed his other leg over the fence and lowered himself onto the purring beast in the chute. He lowered the back of his gloved hand onto the hide of the creature as the team around him tossed the rope over his palm a few times and started to tighten it down. He could hear his father next to him as he stared into space and focused himself.

“Control what you can, and relax. Find the rhythm, lock into the groove, and go with the flow. Become one with the bull, and nothing will be unexpected.”

James heard the voice around him. “Ready?”

He raised the thumb on his free hand and the audience started to fade away as he heard his father counting down.

“Three.” James inhaled.

“Two.” James exhaled.

“One.” James inhaled and the chute flew open.

“...make a wish...make a wish....” James opened his eyes as he expelled the air in his lungs and extinguished the flame atop the wax ‘18.’ The crowd cheered as a thin string of smoke rose into the air and the room filled with the smell. James’ father approached him at the table.

“What did you wish for?”

James gave his father a knowing nod.

END.