Out Our Way: You can do it! - Judges 6:14-16

Out our way, a lot of people grew up with horses and learned to ride at a young age. For others, riding is something learned later in life - and often not well. I was raised in the Chicago suburbs and horses were only seen in parades and on TV or the movies. It looked easy enough - until I actually tried to do it for real.

In the church I served in Wyoming, the junior college in the big town down the road offered a riding course to be held at an area ranch. I signed up. Based on my size and that of the horses, I was assigned a huge Morgan mare by the name of Autumn. Morgans are famous for smooth riding, but as a rank beginner, even the pony rides at the county fair were a challenge.

Elsie, the owner and the instructor took us out into the vast acreage of the ranch and kept us together. She taught us to try to feel the horse and seek to flex with its movements rather than sit stiffly and just bounce. Well, she taught us to "try," I just bounced, and, despite Autumn's smooth lead, I bounced a lot.

As it happened, I somehow got a bit behind and Autumn was somewhat the matriarch of the herd and decided we needed to move forward at a faster pace - and so the trot became a canter and then a full gallop. I still had the reins, but had lost my seat and the stirrups and was looking out for rocks and cactus - and rattlesnakes - as I began to slide off. And that is when Elsie galloped up alongside me and told me to pull myself back up, get my feet back in the stirrups, and then take charge and rein Autumn in. "You can do it!" she started yelling. And somehow, I believed her! 

I managed to climb back up, found the stirrups, began to get the rhythm and, firmly holding the reins, took control. I circled Autumn until she stopped running and settled down, and found I was in charge after all. I never lost control of her again - and although I am still a lousy rider and have been tossed, bucked off, and stomped numerous times since then, I always got back on and finished the ride in the saddle. Amazing what a word of encouragement can do, especially when it is from someone you trust and believe knows what she is doing. "You can do it!" 

Gideon was a rank amateur as a warrior, leader, and military strategist. The Lord called him to attack and destroy the far more powerful and experienced Midianites who were raiding the land. Gideon: "Who, me? The Lord: "Yes, you!" Gideon:  "But ... but ... but ... " The Lord: "You can do it!" And because it was the Lord who said so and promised to be with him, Gideon climbed back up, took the reins, and went and did it!

So, do things seem out of control in your life these days, you've lost your stirrups and seat, find yourself sliding off and about to fall off into the cactus and rocks (and snakes ... ugh!)? Well you are not alone, for you are not the first or last to feel that way. But remember that you are not alone in a more important way. Just like Gideon discovered , the Lord was with him to encourage and help him. Call to the Lord Who rides beside you and this day sends you the promise that you are not alone - the Lord is with you, and "You can do it!"

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Brother John 

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The Rev. John Bruington is the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He now lives in Colorado, but continues to write "Out Our Way."