So I have an interesting experience to share about my horse Sam. I take Sam a couple times a week to the barn I work at to ride and we often go outside as he and I both prefer the fresh air and open spaces. Sam is truly my horse based off so many different traits and ways that I could go on and on about but something I have learned about him is unlike any horse I have know before. When we go outside we are able to go quite a ways from the barn down the road and to different pastures. He is always eager to go out and explore however, whenever I try to bring him back he is reluctant. When it is time for us to head back to the barn and when most horses would be eager to get back he does everything in his power to turn around and continue to travel away from the barn. Now from a realistic horse person's perspective, he has no sort of bad experiences that would taint his memory of being at the barn or riding inside the arena. He simply tries constantly to turn back around instead of going back "home". I have experimented a little to see where exactly he is determined to go and I truly believe if I just let him he would continue on his merry way to who knows where! If he hits the end of fence he stares off as seeing new lands he wants to explore on the horizon. Now before this gets to sounding too much like a sappy movie...yet again a seemingly insignificant moment has turned into a spiritual insight for me.
It makes me think of two opposing horses: the one who has the tendency to be barn sour and wants to turn and head back as soon as possible. The barn is a place of comfort, where food is and where close buddies are at. They really hate to leave unless pushed to and are the first to head back at a high rate of speed if allowed. Then there are the other horses, (honestly I can only think I my horse at this point right now :D) who are completely content and actually motivated to leave the barn and stay out as long as you please. It is not until you turn them back that they seem to lose that spark and reluctantly shuffle back looking for a way to get out of it and keep exploring. I think we can identify these as two different kinds of people as well. You have your people who as soon as you ask them to go out away from familiar, the usual routine, and where all their friends and family are they really dislike it and at the first opportunity are cutting out and headed back home. The safe creature comforts found there are far more welcoming than exploring new places beyond their everyday circles. Then you have those people who are eager to go out and explore news places and things; they like home just fine but would rather continue discovering what could be in store around the next bend.
Now I am not writing this to say that enjoying being at home and finding solace there is a bad thing. Home is my safe haven from a hectic crazy world and I am glad I can go there to get away from it all. However I feel that God has been showing me something through this example my horse has given me. Sometimes I have a tendency to be to attached to home. I can be barn sour. God may be calling me to go out and do something or spend time somewhere else and I am waiting around for the first available moment where I can turn and hoof it back home. It is so much easier to shut the door on the chaotic world and live in your own little space of solitude and shelter. Now you definitely need time to rest and recharge but if you are like me sometimes I have a tendency to make that excuse a little often. It is not that I don't like going out or spending time with people and doing things, it is just some things can be intimidating, or seem daunting when you are not exactly a social butterfly that everyone gravitates to. :) And sometimes God does call you to go out of your comfort zone and do things that aren't exactly your area of expertise. He doesn't want you so wrapped up with the comforts your safe place that you miss out on all the adventure He has in store for you. Maybe he is calling you to leave the "barn" and go to a new place and meet new people, join a new study group at your church, get involved in your community, go on a mission's trip, volunteer at a shelter, or have lunch with a co-worker that looks like they need someone to talk to. Maybe it is going to require some late nights and long days and maybe a weekend or two, but I think what we will discover when we do those things is more than we thought possible. When I go out and do things more, I find myself enjoying life more, becoming more confident, making new friends and feeling more satisfied when I do go home to recharge. I also feel at peace knowing I did something for others and that in turn makes me feel better about myself. I begin to want to do it more and more and home becomes less and less the hideaway hole of security. Instead it becomes more of the place I can recharge and prepare to head back out again when I really need it. Don't let the "barn" become your crutch. Don't be so quick to turn tail, instead like my little Sam be determined to explore. God wants us to seek out new horizons, new places and adventures that He has for us. He wants us to take the quiet time with Him at home and use it out in the world. And when we do we will begin to really enjoy it. We will find ourselves wanting to head back early less and less. We will keep on wanting to press forward and give Him all that we have. When we hit a "fence" we will keep on wanting to go farther and He will use us if we are only willing. But we have to be ready to go. We have to be ready to turn our back on the creature comforts at times and go the extra mile even if it is a little scary at times. Sam and I always have our challenges from time to time outside. Some things are intimidating but our desire to reach what's around the bend becomes greater than that fear and worry. Our desire to follow Christ wherever He takes us will become greater than our fear of rejection, failure, and challenges. After all this isn't our real home anyway. What a shame if we just hid behind our closed doors for the rest of our lives and missed out on all the excitement that lies out there. Yes, it can be a cruel world out there and we do have to be smart and careful. But if none of us who know the truth go out and share and shine that truth then what good are we doing? How are we showing we care if we have our eye on the door the whole time? Or more importantly what does it say about us if we don't care? This has been a conviction for me and I hope that sharing it can help other people as well. Let us be the ones who use our homes as places of rest and shelter for ourselves and others when really needed but let use the abilities that God has given us to "ride" out to the new adventures ahead, eager to keep going and reach the goal our Father has given us, no turning back. (Phil. 3:14) Keep your eyes on the horizon.
"I have decided to follow Jesus; not turning back, no turning back."
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