Other Little Ships: Get Me a Horse!

Monday, July 29, 2013

Get Me a Horse!

One of those sleepless nights lacking totally in spiritual motivation.

No desire to pray or read myself into a peaceful state; just skimming through programs on the television with the clicker. "Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on."

I had camped out longer than usual on one particular channel, for no particular reason when another, smaller insomniac crawled into my lap in the recliner.

Ninja Turtle footy-pajamas. Yawning big, rubbing eyes, piling up without a greeting or even acknowledgement of my presence.

Four years old, two in the morning, checking out the tube with Dad and seeing his very first Rodeo. Bull-riding as a matter of fact.

Silent. Watching. In the dock, on the bull, hand under the strap. A nod of the cowboy's head and the gate opens: Pandemonium.

Bucking, twisting, snorting. Clowns askew. Crowd cheering. Cowboy flying.

Jonathan, watching, taking it all in. Then he declares into the quiet with all seriousness (brow furrowed), "If I was ridin' a cow and he did me like THAT . . . I would just get me a horse!"

I guess I've never heard anything funnier at two a.m.! I started to explain, but instead I just laughed and laughed -- to his consternation.

I'm sure one of the MANY reasons our Heavenly Father loves us so is because WE make HIM laugh. And cry. We misjudge His tumult in our lives as we often wish and pray for a calmer ride.

But God embraces us warmly and says, "It's supposed to be like that . . . it's a bull ride, you see. It's not a mistake. It's not out of control."

There is purpose, and it's not as frivolous as a rodeo trophy or purse. It's called "bearing your cross."

The Father says, "Hang on. Ride. Persevere. Overcome. It's MY show. I MADE the bull. I made the stall. I PUT you on the beast. I opened the gate. RIDE!

Bear your cross.

Grow in grace. Learn the lesson. Win the prize. Make the devil mad. Believe. Hope.

"Deep calls to deep at the noise of YOUR waterspouts, God! All of YOUR waves and YOUR billows have gone over me." Psalm 42:7

"Why have you allowed yourself to be cast down (thrown off?), Oh, my soul? And why are you so upset? YOU . . . . (me) HOPE in God --- I'm going to praise Him YET!" Psalm 42:11

Get me a horse? Yep, I'd like one, Pardner. But no . . . . . open the gate.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Mark 4:35-41

35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

OLS

When I began writing many years ago, I self-published everything that I produced under the auspices of "Other Little Ships," (in reference to the miracle of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:35-41, where Mark mentions that there were "other little ships" involved in this familiar story).

It has always interested me that in this larger-than-life miracle story there were "little people" in the background, behind the scenes, under the radar.

I've always been more than happy to just get honorable mention in anything that God is doing. I'm proud to be sailing in one of those other little ships as long as I can be a small part of the story.