The Band, The Horse, The Whisperer and The Father

In 1998 a movie was released called "The Horse Whisperer". It stared and was directed by Robert Redford. Redford plays a horse trainer, who uses non traditional methods of breaking a horse. In 2000 Tammie and I were fortunate to go to the ranch of a real "horse whisperer", Monty Roberts. His ranch is in California and we were treated to a horse breaking demonstration. When you think of breaking a horse, you think of a cowboy getting on a horse that has not been ridden and the horse starts to buck and buck and continues to buck until he just finally gets too tired to buck and gives up. This is not the training that Monty believes in. He believes in more of a gentle approach, teaching the horse that you care for him but you are his master as well. By the end of the demonstration, which takes some time, a horse that has never been ridden, has a saddle and rider on their back and they are as happy as can be.

On Sunday, August 1, 2010, we were treated to a similar demonstration, but a much bigger purpose than just ridding a horse. After the PBR event in San Antonio, the band Seventh Day Slumber, which is a Christian band, provided a concert. Not just a regular concert, but a concert that was done in conjunction with Riding High Ministries and their pastor, Todd Pierce. After the bull riding event, the arena was quickly changed into a smaller arena, or corral, with Todd in the center. There was a crowd of about two or three thousand that stayed to watch and hear what was about to happen. The "Pike Pick up" man, James Debord, brought out a 3 year old horse, that had never been ridden, and led it into the small corral. The horse did not come willingly. This was going to be a horse breaking demonstration, but not just your ordinary demonstration. Todd had a bigger purpose in mind, a higher purpose if you will. Todd has learned the "horse whisperer" way of breaking horses and tied that in with his ministry of serving the Lord and reaching people for Him.

He started the horse running around the newly constructed corral by using a rope, with what looked like a piece of rubber on the end, and gently tapped the horse in the rear. He kept the horse moving. When the horse stopped, or changed directions, he got the horse moving again by tapping the horse. During this time he talked about the horse and the purpose for the horse and the fact that the horse was stubborn and did not know what it's purpose was. The horse wanted to just go it's own path. Todd tied this into what we many times do, we are stubborn, and don't want to listen to the one that has created us, the one true God. We all have a purpose in life and our heavenly Father wants us to know that purpose, but the natural tendency is to be stubborn, go our own way.

Todd was running around the arena with the horse, trying to keep it moving. I found this amazing for two reasons. He was able to talk, although sometimes short of breath. But the second and most important thing was, the fact that he was able to run around the corral at all. Unknown to most in the crowd, Todd tore his ACL two weeks before, during a similar demonstration. Also, he was given a total of an hour for the concert, and demonstration, which the breaking of the horse normally takes more time than that. Just from my viewpoint, God was working out all the details for Todd and the crowd.

He stopped the horse, and over time continued to "get to know" the horse and finally he was able get on the back and gently ride her around the corral, while gently tapping the horse, on the rear with the rope. Keep in mind, this is a horse that had never been ridden. The next step was to get the saddle on the horse. With the help of Mike Lee, Todd started this process. While this was going on, Seventh Day Slumber played music and sang gently. The lead singer gave his personal testimony of being a drug addict and trying to commit suicide because he didn't want his mom to continue to suffer and pay for his habits. He talked about how he found the Lord and how it changed his life. It was, to say the least, moving to hear a story of such tragedy make such a dramatic turn. He finished by saying that he is alive and a father today, only because of the love and grace of the heavenly Father.

The saddle was on and the horse started around the corral again, without Todd on his back. However, this time the running around the corral was different. The horse bucked and made what sounded like crying noises. It was silent in the arena and all you could hear was the horse running and crying out. Todd pointed out that we do the same in our lives. We run from God, yet at the same time cry out for help or cry out about our lives and wonder what our purpose is. It was part of the process that the horse had to go through and in many times it is a process of brokenness that we have to go though in our own lives before we can finally see that God is the answer, not our stubborn selves. The horse finally calmed down and the moment of truth came. Todd mounted the horse again, and rode the horse around. The horse was broken and the purpose fulfilled.

At this time Todd got down off the horse (actually the horse bucked once and Todd jumped off the back). With music playing and the spotlight on the horse and Todd, he gave the invitation for those that wanted to commit their heart and life to Christ and make Him Lord and Savior, to come down on the arena floor. I am thrilled to say that there were over 200 people that made a decision of faith that day and committed their lives to the Lord. Speaking from personal experience, a horse breaking demonstration, done with the "horse whisperer" method is moving. However, done with a message about God and His son Jesus Christ, makes for an awesome and inspiring experience. The message puts in perspective of who we are and the love that we have been given, if we would simply reach out with our hands, heart and spoken word and accept that gift of grace.