My granddaughter had her first horseback ride on July 4 and I was there to see it and capture it in photos. It was really special when she got to take a ride, first with her mama and then with her daddy. Best of all was when she rode with her great-grandpa (now known as Big Grandpa), my dad. Dad says this was his last horse ride. He’ll be 80 this year and his horse is in his mid-20’s and is showing his age. I got a lump in my throat watching that ride and remembering 50 plus years of rides with Dad.
I didn’t ride that day; I was too busy with the camera. I did get to ride a few days later when I took my boys on a “guy trip” to Colorado. We rode for an hour in the Garden of the Gods just outside Colorado Springs. I won’t talk about how the folks there looked at me, weighed me, and then brought me out a Clydesdale to ride. Some things are better left unmentioned. Actually, I felt a little like John Wayne in the original True Grit movie. Compared to me atop old Dan, it looked like everyone else was riding sheep.
I was thinking about that horseback ride yesterday and I started pondering horseback riding as a metaphor for life. I’ve ridden a lot of horses in my lifetime and there are lessons to be learned from each.
More than likely my first horse was rocking horse. I managed to generate a lot of motion on that horse, but I never really went anywhere. That’s ok when you are a toddler, but no grownup wants to spend any significant time on a rocking horse. However, we sometimes find ourselves busy–constantly moving, but never really making any progress.
Along the way, I had a few rides on the store-front motorized horse. That was a special treat that didn’t happen very often. I sat still, used no energy of my own, never went anywhere, and someone else had to pay for it! Again, ok for a little kid, but I haven’t found a lot of people in my adult life who are willing to put down their money for my entertainment.
I also spent some time on a stick horse. That could be fun and I could pretty much go anywhere I wanted until I ran out of energy. Stick horse riding is an independent enterprise, even in a group. I wonder how many opportunities I have missed because I was determined to do it all myself.
And then there is the long line of genuine horses that have carried me many a mile. I’ve been able to benefit from strength beyond myself to go places and accomplish tasks I never could have gone or done independently. A horse and rider working together is a powerful partnership.
There is much more I could say, but I’m out of space for now. I’m thinking about unpacking this some more in a future podcast.
For now, I’ll just say “Cowboy Up!” Your life matters to God.
