| The more I work with horses and people the more I | | | | It seems to me we could go thru life with a lot less |
| learn about each. This is the Third in a series of articles | | | | stress and worry if we prepared ourselves for life's |
| I would like to write a about some of the things we | | | | transitions or changes. As we grow we have to |
| teach to help in our relationship with our horses, as well | | | | transition from crawling to walking, from baby formula |
| as with each other and what we can learn from our | | | | to solid food, from no school to school, from high |
| creator. | | | | school to the working world, from single to married, |
| We use 4 keywords in our teaching: Confidence, | | | | right thru from working to retirement, from retirement |
| Consistency, Compassion and Connection. | | | | to old age and all the things that happen as we get |
| CONFIDENCE: faith or belief that one will act in a right, | | | | older. Don't you think these things would be easier if |
| proper & effective way | | | | we studied about them, learned about, thought ahead, |
| CONSISTENCY: uniform or persistent occurrence or | | | | and prepared ourselves for each transition or change |
| re-occurrence | | | | in our life? |
| COMPASSION: involves tenderness & understanding | | | | Now some of you may be saying this sounds |
| CONNECTION: a union, to join, link or bond | | | | impossible. It may be sometimes. I often thank God for |
| Transitions or Changes | | | | my parents as they transitioned from retirement to |
| The two keywords we will use in transitions are | | | | quitting driving to moving into a senior's residence and |
| connection and consistency. | | | | preparing for their own funeral. I sure made it a lot |
| In our teaching we try to encourage and teach for | | | | more pleasant for them and for their kids. |
| smooth, relaxed and comfortable transitions for both | | | | What is the biggest transition in your life coming up that |
| horse and rider. To do this we need to not only | | | | maybe you aren't prepared for and what can you do |
| prepare the horse but ourselves. If we are able to | | | | to prepare for a smooth transition? |
| prepare ourselves well enough the horse will follow. A | | | | When we connect with God - transitions or changes in |
| transition can be from a walk to a trot, a trot to a walk, | | | | our lives will be many, but he gives us very clear |
| a walk to a lope or canter, a walk to a stop and then | | | | instructions and direction and if we follow His truth |
| to a backup. We haven't included all the transitions or | | | | consistently -- He promises all our transitions will be |
| changes we ask the horse to make here, but, I think | | | | smooth and worry free. |
| you get the idea. | | | | The question that looms in front of us all is will we be |
| We suggest you begin every transition by preparing | | | | ready for the biggest transition that we will all have to |
| yourself mentally, think walk, think slow down, think | | | | go thru. Paul in his letter to the Philippians' says this: |
| stop, and then add we are going to stop at this point, | | | | Philippians' 3:21-- He will take these weak mortal bodies |
| or go into a trot in the next 3 steps. As we prepare | | | | of ours and change (or transition) them into glorious |
| our minds this is transferred to the horse as our body | | | | bodies like his own, using the same mighty power that |
| prepares for the transition and we have connection. | | | | he will use to conquer everything, everywhere. (TNLT) |
| This may sound too simple; it does not need to be | | | | A difficult transition for most of us is the transition of |
| complicated. The difficult part is to find the consistency | | | | the heart. God can help us with this. And we can help |
| to make this work time after time. | | | | as Paul instructs Timothy how to do this. |
| We are told that before we come to a stop in a car | | | | II Timothy 2:24-26 24 The Lord's servants must not |
| we should prepare ourselves by thinking ahead and | | | | quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be |
| start our braking, depending on our travelling speed and | | | | able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult |
| the distance and car lengths we need to stop. We | | | | people.25 They should gently teach those who oppose |
| also need to do this smoothly so we don't throw | | | | the truth. Perhaps God will change (or transition) those |
| anyone thru the windshield; of course everyone in the | | | | people's hearts, and they will believe the truth.26 Then |
| car is prepared for this because we made sure | | | | they will come to their senses and escape from the |
| everyone has their seatbelt on -- right. | | | | Devil's trap. For they have been held captive by him to |
| With our horses we want smooth and comfortable | | | | do whatever he wants. (TNLT) |
| transitions and this is done by first preparing, -- at the | | | | Transitions can be difficult for all of us - are you ready |
| right time, and with enough time, but not too much | | | | for this -- Peter tells us-- For God has reserved a |
| time,---our minds and bodies and the horses mind and | | | | priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven |
| body, so that it happens effortlessly and without stress | | | | for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of |
| to horse or rider. Always remembering "as little as you | | | | change and decay. |
| need but as much as it takes". | | | | |