Out our way: Who's driving?

"Be not like the horse or mule without understanding who must be guided by bit and bridle lest it stray from you" - Psalm 32:9

Years ago when I was pastoring in rural Wyoming, there was an incident when the state troopers pulled over a local guy on horseback for drunk driving. Seems he had lost his license after a few too many DUIs and so rode his horse over to the local watering hole to bend the elbow. Then after becoming nearly incapacitated, he left at closing time, mounted his horse, gave him his head and settled into a drunken stupor while the horse headed for home.

Unfortunately, the horse, with no guidance from his rider, wandered out of the ditch and onto the road where he was nearly hit by several cars and trucks. The cops were summoned to get this drunk off the road before someone got killed and when the patrol car arrived on the scene, the trooper found the drunk and his faithful steed standing in the middle of the highway. After leading horse and indisposed rider off the road, the officer took out his book and began to write a ticket. At that point the drunk challenged the officer, pointed at the horse and said, "Why you giving me a ticket? He was driving!"

St. Francis of Assisi, whom many consider one of the greatest followers of Jesus Christ, used to refer to his body as " Brother Mule," for because he realized that without guidance and spiritual alertness, he would easily lose his focus and wander from the pathway of God. Brother Francis found he needed to be reined in from time to time lest he lose his focus and direction and end up wandering aimlessly like a horse or mule without a rider.

As I get out Goliath's tack, I sometimes stop and look at his bridle and think of my own "Brother Mule," which like "Old Doc," occasionally needs to be reminded to pay attention to what I'm doing and where I am going. Even Goliath needs and wants more than mere existence, but without guidance and direction he will not find it.

As Goliath and I have connected more and more over the years I have come to notice that when there's something to be done or somewhere to go, his whole attitude changes. A few years ago we were asked to help push some strays that had wandered away from the herd back to the road. As soon as Goliath saw them, he realized what needed doing and eagerly went about it. His head went up, his ears went forward, his eyes started to shine, and he broke into an easy trot as we turned the cattle and began to push them where they needed to go. It is one thing to be a horse, it is something else to be a cow pony with a job to do. Goliath found purpose in moving cows and his whole being reflected that sense of identity.

In the same way, I find that just grazing my way through life is not enough. I too need a reason and purpose to fully come alive. "Brother Mule" is often too lazy to seek it, but I am the one holding the reins. I can decide to seek our direction and purpose to give my life meaning. Recently I was reading a book on this very subject that offered three steps in doing this.

First, connect with God. Only the humble heart is empty enough to have room to receive the gifts of God. Second, connect with self. We all wear facades and masks, hiding even from ourselves who we really are. Cast away false images and pretense, seek out your real self and the unique gifts God has given that make you who you really are. Take the time to consider your passions in life as well as your talents. Third, wake up and look around. What are the things you love to do and which you do well? God has equipped you with certain abilities and a special enjoyment of using them and has also offered opportunities to put those gifts to work. But you have to be both awake and alert to do so.

"Brother Mule," the flesh, will just graze life away and never accomplish a thing of importance unless the rider - the soul - wakes up, takes the reins and seeks out the meaning and purpose God is offering. So, where are you heading in this life? Depends on who's driving.

(John Bruington is pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He and Goliath can be contacted at [email protected].)