8/31/20
Yesterday we went to a horse rehab. It’s a rehab both for horses and people. Some of the horses on site are foster horses that came from a previous abusive owner. Some of the horses have really difficult pasts. But all of the ones I encountered were incredibly friendly and loving. Of course, I didn’t do much with them. I don’t have a ton of experience with horses and that wasn’t what we were there for. I just watched them being moved from their stalls to open pastures and patted a few of them while they waited to be moved.
You see, the point at this rehab is that beautiful things happen when you put broken, hurting people with horses who have broken, hurting pasts. They just know how to love each other in an indescribable way. At least, that’s what I’m told and I absolutely believe it’s true. I didn’t get to see it first hand. We weren’t there to help with the animal-human therapy that happens.
We were there to do the behind the scenes things that make those connections possible. The things that make healing for both the horses and the people possible. Sometimes, behind the scenes activities aren’t glamorous, and you don’t get to see the beautiful things that happen at the forefront, where society’s attention is focused.
Sometimes the necessary behind the scenes activities are far more gross than anything close to being glamorous.
Yes, yesterday I helped clean out horse stalls.
I shoveled horse poop.
That’s how I spent my morning.
I went into this race knowing very well that not every job is glamorous and clean. I went in knowing I would have to try new things. Even things I didn’t like doing and didn’t really want to do. My whole squad did. And let me tell you that the half of our group on stall duty never complained one time. The attitudes my squad mates showed were a beautiful example of Christ. And in fact for one girl this is what she grew up doing and she loved every minute of it. And the rest of us absolutely relied on her expertise as we asked over and over: “Eva is this clean enough? What else do I need to do to get it ready?”
I didn’t come on the Race to live a glamorous life. I came to be the hands and feet of Jesus, because I can guarantee if Jesus were there he’d have been right there in that stall with me, shoveling poop.
Being a Christian and loving others isn’t always glamorous. Sometimes it really stinks and isn’t fun. But it’s worth it. If Jesus, our savior, can come to earth and make the least glamorous sacrifice there could possibly be by dying on the cross all for the sake of loving us then I know I can handle a life that isn’t full of glamor. I chose the World Race because I wanted to learn how to be content with the less glamorous things in life. The fact is, America isn’t always glamorous either. I’m grateful for this opportunity to learn something new and see a less glamorous side of service.
And I would do it again.
I challenge you my reader to ask yourself: would you do it?
What are you truly willing to do for Jesus?
