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Have you ever thought much about the power of circular thinking? If you're like most people, probably not. After all, circular thinking sounds too much like one of those new-age esoteric terms, right? And as a general rule, most new-age, esoteric terms scare people, as it darn well should. Trust me, I've got too many miles under my cowgirl boots to mess around with such foolishness. Nevertheless, the power of circular thinking is real, albeit, little understood. Perhaps we can understand circular thinking better by learning a little bit about what it is not. Circular thinking is not the same as linear thinking.
Most of us are linear thinkers. Let me explain. Linear thinkers "think" in straight lines, not circles. In other words, linear thinkers think in a sequential manner. Let me give you an example using the alphabet. To a linear thinker, A leads to B, which leads to C, which leads to D, and so on. If you really want to throw a linear thinker a curve ball (no pun intended), just skip from A to M, and back again to C! Linear thinkers rely on logic, categorization, and deductive reasoning to make sense of their world. To put it succinctly, linear thinking is all about one's perception of the most efficient way to get from one place (or thing) to another. And to a linear thinking person, that always means a straight line.
Perhaps the fact that so many people are linear thinkers is why it is often difficult for them to fully understand God, His creation, and perhaps just as importantly, His ways. Why? Most of what we know about God and His creation goes against linear straight-line thinking. Linear straight-line thinkers often struggle, not only with their understanding of the infinite, omnipotent, and infallible God of the Bible, but especially with the sequential history of our planet (the where, when, and how things came into being).
Linear thinkers also have a tendency to struggle at times with their understanding of a God who doesn't always do things "in their life" according to plan (their plan, not His), and in a specific and sequential order that they deem correct. To shoot straight with you (uh-oh, there goes that linear thinking), sometimes we can all feel like we're just going around in circles! It's times like these when we are most likely to feel confused. During these confusing times, not only does our world and circumstances seem to make no sense at all, but perhaps, we feel that God makes no sense, either. Tighten your cinch and let's go further...
So, why doesn't God, and especially His ways, always make sense to us? Perhaps part of the complicated answer lies in the possibility that God may not be a linear thinker. What if God is a circular thinker? One thing's for sure, when He created, He often did it using circles. Just think earth, moon, and sun. Interestingly, there are no square or triangle shaped planets! Just as fascinating is the fact that the word "circle" is mentioned many times throughout scripture and always in context with God's creativity. I invite you to exercise your God-given Google rights and explore them all!
As for the time and space we have here, I want to direct your attention to human circular thinkers and what makes them so different. When it comes to circular thinkers, they are extremely sensitive and creative people, and they always think outside the square box! Circular thinkers are notoriously artistic people who tend to possess a highly intelligent creative ability. Now, here's where it gets interesting. The artistic creations of the circular thinker often involve circles! For this old cowgirl, it begs the question, "Why?" Time to tighten that cinch once again and let's pick up the pace...
Circles can be found in almost all of God's creation. Not only are our vital internal organs mostly circular, but so are the inner workings of nature such as the circular rings of a tree. Circles, by virtue of their unique design, have no definitive beginning point and no end. Such is the mystery and wonder of our everlasting Father, as well. Consider His words, "I am the Alpha and the Omega", says the Lord God "who was and who is and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1: 8)
Circles, by virtue of their unique and artistic design, have no definitive beginning point and no end. In other words, you cannot determine the first stroke of the Creator's pen nor fully comprehend the last stroke in the creation of the circle. Circles, by definition, are considered unending. Consider our culture's wedding ring and the meaning attached. It is symbolic for a love without beginning or end. At one time, the greatest circular thinkers in the world were Native American Indians. I've had the awesome privilege and honor to do mission work amongst these amazing people, and I believe that no other culture on the face of this round earth understands the power of circular thinking more. Not only has their understanding of circular thinking affected thousands of generations, but it also led to their becoming the first true horse nation. Was the Native American's connection with the horse just a random occurance in the history of mankind? I don't think so. In fact, no other animal on the face of the earth understands the power of circular thinking more than the horse. Only providence could bring the greatest circle thinkers, the Native people, and the circular thinking horse together!
*Want to learn more about Native American history? Be sure to click our Archive Button located near the bottom of this newsletter, then scroll the titles until you find the newsletter titled The First Horse Nation (12/13/2014)
Native Americans and Horses
THE GREAT CIRCLE THINKERS
"He has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters at the boundary of light and darkness."
(Job 26: 10, NASB)
Native Americans and horses make a great partnership. Why? They are both circular thinkers!
I greatly admire people who have a call on their life to do mission work in far-away places. However, I've never had a call on my life to travel to distant shores. Instead, my call to mission work fell much closer to home, i.e., in my own country. I strongly believe in mission work throughout the world, but my heart has always been for American soil evangelism. Hence, the deep compassion and special heart I hold for the often forgotten Native American Indian. Along with my husband, Kim, who is part Arickara-Mandan native, and our adopted Lakota Sioux son, Dakota, we traveled extensively together doing mission work among the plains tribes for many years. It was during those years that I learned about the importance and power of circle thinking within the Native culture. In fact, circle thinking is so entrenched in the heart and mind of Native people that one cannot separate it from their culture.
CIRCLES ARE MORE THAN TRADITION
IN NATIVE CULTURE.
CIRCLES ARE SYMBOLS THAT TELL US
WHAT THEY BELIEVE.
A picture of a Native American dream-catcher. Note the circle shape. The dream-catcher originated with the Ojibwe, and was later known as the "bawaajige nawaagan", or the "dream snare". The dream-catcher was originally created by the Ojibwe as a symbol of unity between Indian nations, and represented how "giizis" or the sun and moon travel across the sky. Later, as people began to promote the shameful "retailing" of American Indian traditions, the dream-catcher was sold and used much like a good-luck charm that one could hang above their bed in order to ensnare bad dreams, and let the good dreams pass through.
Do a little research on Native American culture, and you'll quickly learn about the importance of circles. For example, although it varies from tribe to tribe, the four elements "circle drawing" includes air, fire, water, and earth, and is a symbolic depiction of what they refer to as mother earth. Other circle symbols include the Sun symbol which depicts the cycle of seasons, as well as the cycle of life to death, and rebirth, again. Finally, the circle is symbolic of closeness and protection to the Native people. It is considered a circle that cannot be broken. Perhaps Ada R. Habershon was influenced by Native people's circular thinking in 1907 when he penned the original chorus to an old gospel song that some of us still remember. Perhaps you remember his song, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken". The southern version of the chorus goes something like this.,..
"Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by?
There's a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky!"
And who has not experienced a Native American Pow-Wow? If not, then by all means, you should! Nothing demonstrates the Native people's understanding of the circle better than their traditional Pow-Wow, complete with beautiful regalia, and circular dances all to the rhythm of the circular sounds emanating from the endless beat of the tribal drum. With a little curiosity and exploration, one can discover a multiple of circle symbols pertaining to Native culture, along with the different and diverse meanings of the circles. Again, all you have to do is exercise your Google rights! Whether it is an artist' modern-day rendition, or a rock painting from ancient times, Native people not only depict God's power through the use of circles, but they make sense of God's world and their place in it through circular thinking. Now, let's take a moment and talk briefly about horses and something that the Native American Indian learned early on. The Horse is also a circular thinker!
THE HORSE IS A
CIRCULAR THINKER
"And Elisha prayed, 'Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.' Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
(2 Kings 6: 17, NIV)
My horse, Samson, is comfortable riding circular patterns. Why? Because of the location of his eyes, a circle pattern allows him to have a broader view of his world, including what is ahead, behind, and to both sides. Also, note the natural bend (curve) in Samson's body when he is on the circle. Most riding discipline's that require the horse to have a lot of athletic ability and keen awareness take advantage of the horse's innate ability as a circular thinker. For example, the sport of reining incorporates lots of small circles, large circles, and spins.
When I want to strengthen my horse, I ride circles. When I want to teach my horse to shoulder-in and drive from the hindquarters, I ride circles. And when I want my horse to go straight, I first teach him to drive forward on the circle. Is this hard for a horse? Absolutely not. Why? The horse naturally thinks on a circle. Let me explain. Predators are linear thinkers. When we think about predators, we think about lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my! Predators have their eyes on the front of their head (yes, people do, too) and they always see straight ahead of them. Unfortunately, sometimes only seeing straight ahead inhibits one from seeing the bigger picture!
The bigger picture includes not just what is straight ahead, but what is behind, and what is on both sides, as well. That's where horse's circular thinking is crucial for survival. Horses are prey animals. Their eyes are shifted more to the side of their head. God created them that way for a reason. In a nutshell, He created them with their eyes shifted more to the side for a reason, and a good one. He created them that way for their protection and survival. A horse's vision is more adept at seeing the bigger picture. When a horse is riding "on the circle", he is in his natural element. Why? As a horse travels the orbit of the circle, his eyes can see a larger field of expanse. The larger field of expanse the horse is able to see, the safer he feels. Native people instinctively understood the prey nature of the horse and it's need for safety. They also understood the power of the circle. Within the circle, a horse feels enclosed and protected - not trapped! Now let's talk about you and me.
God Has Enclosed His Children
IN A CIRCLE OF PROTECTION
"You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid your hand upon me."
(Psalm 139: 5, NASB)
Horses will often instinctually form circles even when they are not coerced. Can you think of ways we use circular thinking when working with our horses? How about lunging in a circle? And what about the shape of our training areas such as arenas and round pens? Horses don't like squares, and neither do people!
Horses don't like squares, and neither do people! Why? Quite literally, squares are simply straight lines that meet in the corners. To say the least, corners are boring. But to a horse, it goes much deeper. Corners represent entrapment. Circles, on the other hand, are imaginative and creative straight lines on a curve! Circles have no start or end. That keeps it exciting. It is the circular shape that causes a horse to physically, and hence mentally, feel more secure. Within the circle, a horse knows that his Master can reach out and touch him, and he is protected. When it comes to horses, and people, we all have a very basic need. We all have a need to feel safe and protected.
I mentioned at the beginning of this newsletter that sometimes we all have times when we feel like we're just going around in circles. It can be a debilitating feeling, and one that leaves us feeling insecure and unsure of what's next. Have you ever felt insecure and unsure of what lies ahead? It's a natural feeling, and all the more so for linear thinkers. The feelings of insecurity and being unsure are then doubly compounded when a linear thinker "thinks" that God is a linear thinker, too! Remember, the linear thinker must have straight lines, or his world becomes unbalanced quickly! To a linear thinker, the letter A must always involve a straight line enroute to the letter Z. But what if the smartest way to get to letter Z in our life doesn't begin with the letter A? And what if our life's journey from beginning to end isn't lived out in a straight line? Ahhh, right about now, I can hear my mama say, "What goes around must come around." And still, we have questions...
What if we linear thinkers could think outside the square box we so often put God in? What if we could actually understand a God who has no beginning or end? What if we truly understood that He who hems us in from behind and before does so to protect us? What if we saw the circular fences that contain our lives as a hedge of safety and protection rather than a barrier to our freedom? What if we really understood the shape of the earth, the sun, the moon, and what makes the world go round? What if? Perhaps if we dared to really understand the answer to these questions, then maybe, just maybe, we'd understand the real power behind circular thinking. It is the awesome power that has always been, and will always belong to Almighty God.
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