Equestrian dressage, July 29, 2012. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.” — James 3:3
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I come from a family which very much enjoys horses. Both my parents grew up riding horses as kids, and I had some experience horse riding when I was younger as well. I’ve always believed in the principle that nature has much to teach us about God and life — after all, there are many instances where the Bible instructs to “count the stars” (Genesis 15:5) or “go to the ant” (Proverbs 6:6) in order to mature and grow as a person.
So, with that in mind, I want to share a few lessons I picked up from watching horse dressage at the Olympic Games last year:
1) What matters is heart, courage and confidence, not appearance
In dressage, presentation is very important: the horse and rider being in sync, the proper steps and sequences being completed, etc. But, at the end of the day, what sells a program isn’t just looking perfect or going through the right things at the right time. What sells a program is the heart and emotion with which it is delivered. Yes, it’s important to avoid as many deductions as possible, but ultimately, the attitude of the horse and rider and their ability to bring their passion to the arena is what sells the program.
And the same ought to be true of us in whatever we put our work, time, and energy into. Just getting stuff done or trying to be as flawless as possible isn’t what makes for a quality life — it’s the heart and the passion we put into it as well. Accomplishments fade with time, but attitude and spirit and character last forever.
2) There are givers and there are takers
Like people, some horses aren’t as cooperative and selfless and teachable. They take more from you than they give, and that can be frustrating. The goal of the rider, however, is to work with the horse to mold even the takers into something that’s as close to a giver as possible. In order to compete at the highest level, you have to channel that stubbornness into something pliable so that you get the most out of your animal in competition, and help them achieve their potential.
In the same way, our job as leaders, parents, friends and followers of Jesus is to be able to work with even the takers so that they end up wanting to give something valuable. That can be challenging and require much patience, but it is possible and worth it.
3) Transformation takes time
You can’t instantly turn a horse into an event-worthy competitor. There is a process of helping that horse learn what it means be in front of the crowds, to feel for the subtle guidance of the rider, to listen for the music transitions, to remember its steps. All of that takes a while, and it takes dedication and patience on both the part of the horse and the rider to slowly grow into that partnership that can compete for the highest prizes in the sport.
In the same way, our personal growing and transformation takes time. God doesn’t expect to turn us into a mature Christian overnight, and we shouldn’t expect that of ourselves. Learning is a process, and we need to give ourselves grace because that’s what He does.
— Katherine Singer
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