Horse Training

7/31/08

Recently I was pondering my life and the methods God uses to communicate with me. I was wishing that He would just come down and speak to me in plain English. I was asking Him, "How is it that I am supposed to understand you? Why does it seem as though I have been going in circles my whole life?" As these thoughts were swimming through my head, I had a moment of clarity. I remembered clearly the method I have used when training horses.

I'd put a wild horse in a round pen. I would stand in the middle with a lariat. My objectives were; to get the horse to look at me, then focus on me, then trust me, then do what I asked him to do willingly, then I could give him the ability to be what he was created to be, once trained to trust and listen, he could enjoy a freedom previously impossible. The horse did not understand any of this, all he knew was that he was trapped in a steel cage and he was sure I planned to kill him. His focus was outside the pen at the world around him, his objective was to obtain, what he perceived, as freedom. In his fear he ran around the pen snorting and kicking up clods of dirt, I would throw the lariat in front of him, he would skid to a halt wheel around and continue his mad dash in the opposite direction. This action was repeated over and over until the horse exhausted, confused, breathless and covered in sweaty lather, finally stopped his racing about, and stood peering over the fence, I would make noises intended to get him to look at me but often instead he would begin to run again and the routine would resume, only this time his flight was shorter lived. Eventually when I called to him he looked at me instead of running. I backed off a step and stood quietly rewarding him for looking at me. Soon He learned that as long as he focused on me he was at peace. No running, no fear. His sides began to stop their heaving and his eyes once wild with fear and excitement took on a calmer appearance. For awhile he stood with his body facing away from me peeking back over his shoulder, after a bit he slowly began to to bring his body in line with mine, for he found it easier to stay focused on me if he turned away from the fence to face me. Soon I could walk up to him and touch him and walk away and always I kept his focus. Finally he gained a profound trust, when with me, he felt safe and at peace, his desire to be with me grew until, he was so focused, so in tune with me that when I walked away he followed along beside me, when I stopped he stopped, when I turned he turned. Now he was ready to be set free.

Wow, God has been teaching me in the same manner. How long the process takes is up to me. I can keep running in circles, meeting with exhaustion and failure, fear and confusion or I can stay focused on Him, my master and creator, my source of peace, comfort, and rest. I Can trust Him and follow in His footsteps and find the freedom I have been looking for.

The next time I feel myself going in circles I will seek to focus on God, I will know He is trying to get my attention.

I am so thankful He is patient with us, aren't you?