Pondering the herd....

I have copied and pasted here a portion of a blog from Sandy at Refuge Farms. She compares and contrasts how a group of horses (a herd) and a group of people act ... as a group. I have included the people part here. Really interesting and thought provoking... if you would like to read more or check out how the horses treat each other - check out her blog at Refuge Farms.

We humans are not naturally curious adults. We are curious as children, but somewhere along the line we learn to doubt and mistrust and the curiosity is set aside for judgment and criticism and skepticism. We set expectations and if another human does not meet our expectations we have disappointment and anger toward them. We humans tend to shun the human who fails to meet our expectations. Or we simply withdraw and withhold our communications and interactions with that failing human that we have no faith in any longer.

We humans tend to create societies inside of the big society, thereby leaving some behind or outside of our inner circle. We leave some behind simply because they don’t fit with us or have failed us in some way and so we no longer go back to retrieve them. We let them stay behind to fend for themselves. And in our mini-societies, we tend to tell our fellow humans what they “should do” or “need to do” or “ought not to do”. We tend to be experts on the actions of others without always considering the footprints of the others.

We humans also tend to not move like fluid. Instead we tend to fend for ourselves and forget the power of mass and the force of many. We see change and fail to communicate. Usually, we resist change and strike out either with words or that withdrawal mechanism again. Sadly, we humans tend to not meet change as a group with open communication and respect for our leader. Once again, we end up standing alone to face expectations with an already slow start because we are alone and without the support and protection of our herd.

And we humans tend not to overextend ourselves to care for others. We tend to say you “must have some common sense about it” and we tend to leave some to die. Is it our faith that is weak? Or our conviction that is lacking? Or are we just too tired meeting all of those expectations set upon us? How can we turn our back on those who will suffer or die without us?

More than anything, I see we humans as an anxious lot. An unsatisfied lot. Not easy to please or easy to be or stay happy. We seem to want more than the sun on our shoulders and a decent meal with fresh water.

So.... let me know what you think... especially if you go and read the whole blog.

Horses.

I know that most of my readers think I am a little crazy for loving horses like I do. At the most - I know you don't get it.

I've been thinking alot about it lately. Just what is it? It's so much more than, "they are pretty."

So, here's what I have come up with: they are the closest thing I can think of that embodies all the attributes of God. ... beautiful, graceful, loving, gentle, peaceful...fun-loving, relational...a great listener.... faithful... but strong and powerful at the same time.... and when you can no longer walk ~~ they will carry you.

Now, you know...

www.refugefarms.com www.refugefarms.blogspot.com

Easter...

Was just reading one of the blogs I follow... Refuge Farms

It is a farm much like the one I want to have...
On her site - she has the following:
“I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak… I will watch over. I will feed them in justice.” Ezekiel 34:16

Her last blog was about Easter - and what it meant to her and on her farm... Enjoy...

Desires of Your Heart....

My oldest son will be graduating high school soon. The first question asked when someone is graduating is, "What will you do afterward?" My son really has no idea. But what I have been telling him over and over is follow the desires of his heart. They were put there by our loving God and direct our paths as to how we can be best used to glorify Him.

I have also been reading the most awesome blog (I have mentioned it several times) .. but it is the almost daily description of a woman and her life with her horses. From her blog I have followed other blogs and links and watched other women interacting with their incredible horses.

Both of these activities have gotten me to thinking ... shouldn't I be following the same advise I have been giving my son?

So, I sat with that for a while and asked God to reveal to me what it is I can do with this desire. And it came to me... I know we serve a God of second chances and I want to be able to have a place that offers that to horses ... and to people. Somewhere people who are hurting can come and be "ministered to" by the unconditional love that these animals offer. And somewhere horses that are thought of by other people to be of no good use anymore... a final home and a place to show that they are not only useful but needed and loved. (much like this place)

It will be nonprofit ... so I hope that someone offers grants to finance it all....

The perfect land will have a lake on it ... so that my husband can fish and teach others the same. It will have a house that is not in perfect condition - but one that has potential and that John and I can work on to make our own. It will have at least 5 acres of land and a barn close to the house - if not somehow attached (right Victoria?) It will be in a state in the midwest ... somewhere between Texas (mine and my son's family) and Vegas (my husbands' son)... OH - and John doesn't really like the rain but he's ok with a little snow.

I know ... sounds like a tall order. But I know that nothing is too big for My God... and if he starts a good work - He will be faithful to see it to completion!!!