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A note from Susan about todays
Special Newsletter Story
"And in the morning, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?"
If you watch the news, then you know that we are living in a dangerous and threatening world that is quickly changing right before our eyes. The evolving political unrest, modern-day plagues, world-wide terrorism, wars, and rumors of wars, can all produce real and sometimes crippling fear, even for the bravest hearts among us. Last Sunday, I suddenly found myself face to face
with a different kind of dangerous and threatening situation. Seemingly out of nowhere, a terrible weather storm arose, and I realized that I had foolishly ignored all the
distant rolls of thunder, and failed to read the signs of what was to come. In an instant, I found myself and my horses engulfed in a dangerous, life-threatening situation. And yet, we lived, and I am here today to share my story with you. It is a story of God's grace and mercy, and a reminder that He will always lead us through the storms of life, and bring us safely home.
Walking
through
The Storm
A story about trust, and lessons learned.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
(Joshua 1: 9, ESV)
Pop up storms are "the norm" here in our neck of the woods, especially during the hot summer months. Most of the time, these storms are just a minor inconvenience. But occasionally these storms turn serious. That was the case last Sunday evening when a violent and dangerous storm rolled in and settled right above our farm. As the rain suddenly began to fall in torrents, and lightening flashed wickedly across the sky, I knew this would not be a simple pop-up storm. And in an instant, my thoughts turned to the horses, "Oh no, the horses are down in the lower pasture. I've got to get them safely back to the barn!"
Grabbing halters and lead lines as fast as I could, I ran towards the pasture and the old metal gate. By then, the wind was so strong that tree branches were snapping like twigs, and hail the size of quarters had begun to fall from the sky. As I tried to catch my breath and shield my face from the driving rain and ice-cold hail, I questioned myself. How could I have missed all the signs of this encroaching storm? Being a horse owner, my eye was always to the sky and alert to changing weather conditions. But this time, I had disregarded even the smallest warning signs of distant thunder. With so many pop-up storms happening throughout the summer, had I simply become complacent and numb? Whatever the case, I was now in the middle of a real storm, and my horses were depending on me to bring them through safe and sound.
From a distance, Montana, Lil' Bit, and Samson saw me coming towards them, and they quickly made a stampede for the gate to meet me. With mud flying in every direction, I decided to take my miniature horse, Lil' Bit, to the barn first. Then, I reasoned, I would come back for the big horses. But just as I slipped the halter on Lil' Bit and shut the gate behind us, there was a crash of lightening and a violent burst of wind that nearly lifted me off my feet. Lil' Bit snuggled closer to me and remained calm as I turned to look back at Montana and Samson. They were anxiously looking at me as if to say, "Why are you leaving us here?" And then, out of the blue, a huge plastic trash-can flew right by my face, and landed out in the field where it continued to roll, and thump, and bounce around like some wild Tasmanian devil. And suddenly, Montana and Samson lost every bit of the thinking side of their brains! With the whites of their eyes shining bright, they pulled out all the stops as they began to run circles, buck, rear, whinny, and fart all at the same time! No doubt, the game was now on.
Montana, Lil' Bit, and Samson grazing on a beautiful summer day (left to right). Hot, humid days like this in the south can quickly change from blue skies to violent storms.
As I hurried to get Lil' Bit to the shelter of the barn, the storm grew increasingly worse. I had already made up my mind. I was going to rescue all of my horses, no matter what. But in my heart there were questions. Did my horses trust me enough to let me lead them through the storm? And had they really learned all the lessons I had taught them in the past - lessons that could save their lives?
"For we walk by faith, and not by sight."
(2 Corinthians 5: 7, ESV)
I use the silent language of Equus to train my horses, but I also use voice commands as the need or lesson demands. For example, I teach my horses early on to trust me, even when they can't see me. I do that through voice commands. In order for my horses to obey me when they can't see me, they have to know the sound of my voice and be able to recognize my authority.
Horses are prey animals who depend on flight when they are scared or spooked. When a horse willingly allows you to take away his power of flight by giving you his feet, it is the ultimate test of his trust in you as his leader. If your horse hasn't learned this basic test of trust by giving you his feet when the sun is shining, chances are he will fail the test when storms come.
Once Lil' Bit was safe in his stall, I headed back for the horses. As I approached the pasture gate, the winds picked up once again, and the skies cracked open with dangerous streaks of lightening. Stepping inside the pasture, I turned my full attention to Samson (the leader of his small herd). I knew that if he responded correctly, then the other horse would most likely follow his lead. Holding out the halter, I spoke to Samson calmly but with firm authority. "Walk", I commanded. This would be the ultimate test of my horse's trust in me. If he could hear my voice now in the midst of the storm and obey me, then the first battle would be won.
Without hesitation, Samson walked over to me and lowered his head. We both let out a long sigh of relief as the muddy rain water rushed over his hoofs, and my drenched boots. "Good boy," I spoke softly to him, and quickly rewarded him with his favorite show of affection - a gentle kiss above his eye. As I slipped the halter over his ears, the rain continued to whip violently around us. Then I turned my full attention to Montana who was still running in mindless circles. And I wondered...
Would this frightened horse be able to hear my voice through all his fear? Turning my shoulder to him, I attempted to draw him in with my eye. Then I called his name, and issued the same calm but firm command, "Montana, Walk". And suddenly, there in the middle of this relentless storm, Montana stopped cold in his tracks and looked at me as if he had just come to his senses. To my right, Samson let out another deep sigh of relief. And then, just as if it had been perfectly orchestrated, Montana walked over to the gate and took his correct place by my left side, just as he had done a thousand times before. The second battle was now behind us, but the third and final battle was yet to come.
With halters on and lead lines securely in hand, I now found myself flanked on either side by two soaking wet 1200 pound horses, as I tried to quickly surmise the safest path back to the barn. The rain water was now rushing like a river down the rolling hills, and I could feel the slippery, muddy earth shift and give way beneath my feet. I could also "feel" the horses tangible fear as it attempted to rise back to the surface with each crash of lightening. Finally, I took a deep breath and pushed the gate wide open. And once again, I spoke calmly but firmly to the horses, "Walk". And again, "Walk". And yet again, "Walk". Each time I gave the command, I could sense their strong bodies soften, and I knew that they had found comfort in the authority of my voice - a voice that they knew and trusted. And at last, we reached the barn. The final battle had been won.
As the sounds of rain continued to beat against the barn roof, Lil' Bit called out to his buddies with a loud nicker as if to say, "Hey there, fella's. Glad you made it!" Finally, with Montana and Samson settled comfortably in their stalls, I sat down on an old barn stool, soaking wet and exhausted. As the last traces of rain trickled down my face, I closed my eyes and thought about all the times the Lord had saved my own life. I thought about those dangerous times when I had been caught in the midst of a terrible storm, and those times when I had been full of fear. Amazingly, God hadn't made those storms vanish or go away, although He could have. Instead, He chose to "walk beside me" through the storms. And with the sound of His calm voice, He reminded me with every step about the important lessons that He had taught me from His Word. Lessons of wisdom that I had learned while the sun was still shining. Lessons that would one day lead me safely home.
We'll Be Back Next Week With...
OLD COWGIRLS
AND
HORSES
(A blog/diary of my life with horses, and a few other adventures along the way.)
and
Q & A
(A segment of our newsletter dedicated to your letters and answering your questions.)
Natural Horse
Faith-Man-Ship
(Teaching biblical faith using horses)
ARE YOU READY FOR THE FAITH RIDE OF
YOUR LIFE?
To Learn More...
WRITE or EMAIL
Susan Klaudt Horse Ministry
P. O. Box 4994
Cleveland, TN 37320
or
ksworldmin@aol.com
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