Out Our Way: Spiritual groundwork

Out our way, it was always a thrill to saddle up and ride with ole “Doc.” Goliath, as was his real name, was a majestic horse, 16½ hands high, 1,200 pounds — and my buddy. When it was time to ride, I went out into the pasture with his halter and lead rope, walked over various hills and ridges until I found him and Babe grazing, and then approached. Babe would usually shy away, but Doc just stood calmly, his big “mule” ears straight up as I approached. He was tempted to follow Babe as she moved off — but I raised my hand, palm outward, and Doc stood still. He knew the signal.

I put the halter on him and led him back to the gate and out to the paddock where we did basic ground work. I worked him on the lead rope, getting him to trot, canter and gallop in one direction, then turning him around and working him the other way. Then I went through the routine of softening him by making him “bend” his head around to his right flank and then his left without hesitation. When we were clearly understanding each other, I took him out for a good brushing, put on his blanket and saddle, and finally took off the halter and put on his bridle. I checked his cinch after walking him around a bit, tightened it, and then finally stepped up. We were ready to ride because even before we stepped off, we had made the connection.

Before I learned to ride or had my own saddle and horse, the only horses I rode were those tourist trail rides. You were a passenger — a load to be hauled down the familiar trail — and while you might know the horse’s name and talk to it, it paid you no mind. There was no connection. What a difference when I started to learn horsemanship, and while a poor rider at my best, Doc and I connected. I had heard of such things, read about them, even seen Roy Rogers and Trigger’s supposed friendship on TV, but never thought it was real. But after six years riding with Charlie on the Tiger Ridge — plus many journeys in that same pasture where Doc and Babe grazed — and quite a few trips in the Bear Paws, I discovered it wasn’t some romantic myth created by TV and Western novels. It was real. But it took time and effort to get there.

Although a pastor for some 45 years, prayer has never come easily to me. Reading the printed out prayers of others in the church bulletin or prayer book just never really worked for me. It was, for me, like those tourist trail rides in the parks, I went through the motions but never felt the real connection. For me, I simply hadn’t done my “ground work” and really hadn’t connected. I was just reading words someone else had written.

Don’t misunderstand, there is a place for pre-written prayer which binds us as a community as we pray them together. And there are times when someone else’s words speak what my soul feels but my feeble brain cannot put into words. But I still need that connection that comes when its just God and me. And that is hard for me.

This morning, my prayer was dull as it so often is, when I recalled that passage in Matthew teaching us to ask, seek and knock.  Hmmm — maybe prayer isn’t always spontaneous. Maybe there is meant to be some process, and my poor prayer life may reflect my lack of effort to seriously prepare. There were times I just hopped on Doc and took off — but I certainly didn’t make a habit of it, for sloppy horsemanship does not build the connection one comes to depend upon over the years. It struck me that sloppy prayer habits don’t build the spiritual connection either. Maybe I need to learn “spiritual ground work”

Ask — Prepare for prayer with a clear idea of why you are praying, especially when doing intercessory prayer. What is it you are asking of God? What is it you need in order to better serve? Think and prepare your heart and mind so your prayer is clear. Ask and you shall receive.

Seek — Be serious about prayer. You are not talking to the ceiling or the sky, but the Living God of all Creation. Be aware of Whom you are addressing. Clear your mind of all distractions and seek God. Seek and you shall find.

Knock — God is serious about you — be serious about Him. He will not force His way upon you or demand your love. It has to be as freely given to Him as His is to you, so He waits for you to make the effort. Like the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son, He does not force his son to return but waits anxiously watching the road for any sign his son is coming home — and when the son is yet far off, the father races to him and embraces him. Knock and the door will be opened.

Is the connection between horse and rider just romantic nonsense made up for the movies and western novels? Is this connection with God in prayer just a myth made up by preachers and the church? Those who have never really ridden and those who have never really prayed may say so, but those who do ride and those who do pray say differently.

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Brother John Bruington and Doc