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WHEN GOD LETS GO OF THE REINS
When I was a little girl, my daddy bought me a brand new bicycle. To me, it was the most beautiful bike in the world. It was bright metallic blue, and had multi-colored streamers that hung from the handle-bars. For weeks, daddy worked hard at teaching me how to ride my bike. He even put training wheels on the back to help me with my confidence. Meanwhile, he took every single step with me, always right by my side. With daddy's help, I soon learned how to peddle faster and faster. It wasn't long until I was confident enough to blast around the corners of the house, the wind blowing in my hair, and one training wheel up in the air. The rush of freedom was nothing short of electrifying for a little girl like me.
Then one day, I came outside to discover the training wheels on my bike were missing. Just as I was about to run and tell daddy that someone had stolen them, he appeared like magic and offered up a challenge. "You know, you're getting pretty good at riding your bike and you've listened to my instruction. I think it's time we took those training wheels off and see what you really know." I was aghast! It was, at once, a provocative idea, and yet, it filled me with incredible fear. Fear that I really wasn't ready to be trusted with what I had been taught.
GOD WANTS TO LET GO OF THE REINS AND TRUST YOU WITH WHAT HE HAS TAUGHT YOU.
CAN YOU BE TRUSTED WITH WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED?
The story of me and my bike eventually had a good ending, and I got really good on that little bike, but not before some scary accidents. The first time daddy took the training wheels off, I wanted to show-off all that I'd learned, "Okay daddy, you stand right here and watch me. I'm gonna ride my bike with no hands!" The last thing I remember was barreling around the corner with my arms outstretched, and headed straight for the biggest oak tree in our yard. Seconds later, daddy was scooping me up off the ground where I was lying flatter than a pancake. My hurtful pride was my worst injury. I remember daddy smiling, while he wiped the dirt off my face and said, "Alright kid, looks like we better put those training wheels back on for a little while longer."
We All Need Someone Who Is Capable Of Teaching Us All We Need To Know In Order To Be All That We Were Created To Be.
Whenever you watch someone successfully ride a horse without reins, it looks almost magical. The fact is, it's not magic at all. It's the result of months, if not years, of training a horse, and developing trust in one another. Just as it is with people, horses aren't born knowing how to trust. Instead, horses are born trusting their survival instincts. Their instincts may keep them alive for awhile, but instinctual behavior won't help them reach their highest destiny. For that, they need a good Master - someone who is capable of teaching them all they need to know in order to be all that they were created to be.
Whether we're talking about riding our horse with no reins, or God letting go of the reins in our life - it all begins with the trust factor. Before I can let go of my horse's reins and trust him, he will first have to learn how to trust me. And how does he learn to trust me? He learns to trust me the same way you and I learn to trust God. He learns it one lesson at a time. And how long will it take to build trust in one another? It takes as long as the journey takes!
YOU'RE INVITED TO TAKE A JOURNEY WITH ME AND MY HORSE, SAMSON
I always have goals when working with my horses - things that I want them to learn - things that will make them not just good, but exceptional horses. And so, a new journey begins for me and my horse, Samson, - to ride with no reins. Ultimately, my goal is to ride my horse bridle-less, but before I can do that, I have to teach him to ride safely with no reins (rein-less). In the past, I've ridden Samson numerous times with no reins in small training exercises, but for my horse to perform all that he's ever learned throughout his career as a reined pleasure horse without use of the reins will be a new experience for both of us.
Everything that I now hope to accomplish with Samson depends on how well my horse has learned all the lessons that came before when I still held the reins of his life.
It's worth noting here that this will be a longer newsletter than usual, because I've tried to include many pictures of Samson's lessons to chronicle our "real-time" progress, and at the same time bring to light "principles of faith" that are important for you and me to learn. Even so, space is limited here, so all of the steps that were necessary to teach my horse to ride with no reins are not included here. Hopefully, we've captured the highlights to share with you. So, are you ready to take a journey with me and Samson? If so, let's saddle up and let's begin with lesson #1.
Lesson #1 - The One Who Controls The Movement and Direction Of The Feet Is The One Who Is In Control
In the above picture, I'm preparing my horse, Samson, for riding with no reins with lesson #1 - my horse must trust me and relinquish the movement and direction of his feet to me. That's easier said than done, since horse's equate their feet with survival and their ability to run away from real or perceived danger. For my horse to allow me control over his feet and the direction in which he moves, is the beginning of trust, and will serve as the foundation of our partnership. Trust is also the foundation of our partnership with God. Before we can have partnership with God, we must trust that He is who He says He is, and can do what He says He can do. Unfortunately, trust can often be a game of teeter-totter for horses, and people. As a consequence, we'll all come back time and again to lesson #1.
If my horse is quick to catch on, he will soon learn that just any old way of moving isn't what I'm trying to teach him. I'm actually teaching my horse to move specifically when, where, and how I ask him to move. In the above picture, my training stick is in the downward position signaling my horse to side-pass "right now" (when I say so), facing the fence (where I tell him), and moving from right to left (how I tell him). In a nutshell, I'm asking Samson to "move away from pressure". Will he do it perfect the first time? Absolutely not. Why? Because horses aren't perfect, and they don't learn perfectly. People aren't perfect either, and they don't learn perfectly. That is why we need a patient Master who is full of grace and mercy.
As a good Master, I've spent years teaching my horse how to do things my way, instead of his way. My goal has been to one day be able to let go of the reins and trust him completely with the knowledge I've taught him. Knowledge that will empower him. It's the same goal that God has for you and me.
THE MORE KNOWLEDGE YOU HAVE - THE MORE POWER YOU HAVE
Have you ever gotten really good at something only to turn around and find the rules have changed? That's what is happening in this picture. Note that my training stick is no longer pointed at the ground. Now it's lifted above my horse's back signaling him that the rules have changed, and he needs to "listen up". Although I'm still working on refining Samson's direction of movement, I'm now asking my horse to side-pass in a different direction. Instead of asking my horse to "move away from pressure" - I'm now asking my horse to "move towards pressure".
I'm not satisfied for my horse to just move really well in one direction, or move in the direction he's most comfortable with. In order to take the limitations off his life, he must learn to move freely in any direction I take him.
Whether it's with horses, or people, trying to teach anyone to "move willingly towards pressure" can be a difficult proposition to undertake. Why? Because it "feels" more natural to move away from pressure, than towards it. And every living, breathing creature has feelings that try to "undermine knowledge" and dictate their actions.
In the above picture, my horse is not only learning to move in a new direction, but he's gaining valuable knowledge about me - his Master. My horse is learning that obedience is more important to me than his feelings about what I'm asking him to do. Naturally, my horse doesn't feel like moving towards me. He naturally feels like moving away from me. I'm looking for my horse to obey me, even when he doesn't "feel" like it. It's no different for you and me. As long as our greatest motivator is our "feelings", we'll never be able to please God. And if we aren't willing to please God, in spite of our feelings, He will never let go of the reins and trust us. It's that simple. Case closed!
WHEN YOU LET GO OF THE REINS, ALL THAT IS LEFT IS THE TRUTH
Once you climb in the saddle and throw away the reins, all that's left is the truth about your partnership with your horse. In this picture, I'm now in the saddle and I've let go of the reins. They're draped loose over Samson's neck, in case he should forget what he's learned, or worse yet, willingly disobey. Eventually, and in another lesson, I will take off the bridle and reins altogether, but not until I'm confident my horse has learned all his lessons well, and can be trusted with that knowledge. For now, I'm concentrating on simply being able to let go of the reins, and watching to see if I can trust my horse to stand still, and wait for further instructions. It will be my horse's first taste of freedom with no reins.
Freedom doesn't mean we're "free to go". It means we're free to stand still and listen.
Oftentimes, we wonder why God doesn't just throw away the reins, and trust us with more. The fact is, He wants to do that. But God won't let go of the reins in our life until we've proven ourselves ready for that freedom. And how does God know when we're ready for him to throw away the reins, and we're ready for freedom? God knows we're ready for freedom when we're willing to stand still and listen to Him before we make a move.
IT'S NOT ABOUT GOING SOMEWHERE - IT'S ABOUT GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Have you ever felt you were finally going somewhere, only to discover a fence standing in your way? I'm sure my horse has felt like that from from time to time. And yet, fences are one of my favorite tools in training my horse to move in the right direction. A fence is not only a physical barrier that keeps my horse from rushing to where he'd rather be (the green grass on the other side), but a mental barrier that checks his focus, and puts it back where it belongs - with me. Who knows for sure, but maybe fences are one of God's favorite tools to use with us, too. Why? Because fences often block forward movement. And why is that important? When we can't move forward, we're forced to concentrate and turn our attention back to where we're really at, and the lesson at hand. To my horse, it might seem like I've allowed a fence to keep him from freedom. We've all felt that way at some point in our life. But in truth, freedom isn't some ethereal thing floating out there somewhere just waiting to be found. Freedom is found in Christ, and Christ is the One who is still in the saddle, and guiding you and me. THE REAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES WITH NO MORE FENCES
Now that my horse understands the purpose of fences in his life, we're ready to move forward. In the picture above, Samson is following my direction without hesitation, refusal, or disobedience, and without fences to block his movement. At this point, I'm continuing to use the stick (or extension of my arm) to guide my horse, but I no longer have to micro-manage or "control" him. Although I'm not using the reins, I'm continuing to direct my horse's movement with my stick placed strategically beside his head, pointing him in the direction I want him to go. Why do I place the stick beside his head (specifically near his eye)? Whether it's a horse or a person, where we turn our head and our eye is exactly where our feet and our attention take us.
Since I no longer have hold of the reins, I'm now close to being able to transfer some responsiblity to my horse. Responsibility for what? Responsibility to look in the right direction.
ARE YOU LOOKING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?
So far, Samson has learned all his lessons well, so I'm ready to trust him with more. In this picture, I continue to "throw away the reins", but now I no longer have to use my training stick to guide my horse's direction. Up until now, I've asked Samson to travel mostly in straight lines from point A to point B. But life isn't always made up of straight lines. Sometimes the lines curve, and twist. Sometimes they disappear altogether. So, what do we do then? Do we simply throw in the towel and give up when the path gets crooked or difficult? Nope - we learn how to listen more closely to the Master, and with his help - we will successfully navigate and overcome every obstacle. I've deliberately placed obstacles in my horse's path, in order to see if will use all that I've taught him to safely navigate his way, or if he will forget what he's learned, and revert to his own instinct. If my horse is paying attention, and is sensitive to my leading, he'll soon begin to recognize quiet, subtle shifts of my weight in the saddle. And then he'll know that I'm still there with him, continuing to tell him the direction I want him to go. JUST ONE TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND 
There is nothing that can take the place of human touch when it comes to teaching horses. The mere touch of my hand conveys love, comfort, and assurance, while at the same time giving firm direction to my horse. I'm very hands-on with my horses. Although I readily use a training stick in any initial lessons, I'm always working towards the goal of using nothing but my hands and my body to communicate with my horse. Why? Because my goal is to attain the closest contact I can with my horse.
In the above picture, Samson and I have now reached that special moment when I no longer need the reins, or even the training stick to "speak" to him. My horse is now paying close attention to my every "move", and now just the mere touch of my hand on either side of his neck speaks volumes.
AND FINALLY, OUR VICTORY RIDE
Finally, Samson and I take our victory ride. The thrill of the moment isn't lost on either of us. We've worked hard for this special moment of partnership, and we relish in every footfall of the walk, jog, and lope with no reins. Second only to a bridle-less ride (and that's coming soon), there's nothing that compares. Inside, my heart is over-flowing with joy for my horse and all his accomplishments. God feels the same way about you and me. He delights in our victories. Why? Because He knows at what expense our victories are won. Victories are often won through trial and error, sometimes numerous mistakes, and starting over and over again. The good news is, if we're in Christ, then our victory is assured. Nevertheless, it's the long journey on the way to victory where all our lessons are learned. Still in need of a few lessons? No problem! Let's start back with lesson #1 - He that controls the movement and the direction of the feet is the One who is really in control. When God lets go of the reins, can you be trusted with what what you've learned?
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