H – Horseback and Hurricanes

Horseback – Standing at the base of a tall steep ridge, I stand in the stirrups, grab hold of the base of the mane with a real good grip and lean forward as I gently give Dudley a nudge with my heals. Up the hill he goes, I totally have to trust that he will keep his footing and bring us both to the top of this obstacle.

That was the scene about 10 years ago when I had to face a fear that had been hidden from when I was probably 10 years old. The first time I ever rode a horse was when my mom and dad took my older sister and I to the local riding stable. Before we went my sister was trying to describe what it was like and what we would see and she described one point in the ride were we were on a “cliff” overlooking the lake on a narrow path and that the horses had to run to get up the hill. I was so afraid before we got to the stables that I was sick to my stomach. We made it though that ride and I went on to enjoy years of being in, around and on horses.

Then that afternoon in Eastern Washington and that whole episode came flooding back as I faced that hill. There 8 of us that were on a camping trip with horses and there was nothing I could do but to trust the horse I was on. Working hard Dudley brought us safely to the top and I sat back in the saddle and enjoyed the view.

Hurricanes – clockwise or counter clockwise, hurricane or typhoon. When you are in the middle of one it really doesn’t matter. The most amazing experience during a hurricane is being in the eye. The wind and the rain suddenly stop and the sky overhead clears and the sun comes out. There is calm and peace. Standing there a sense of relief comes upon you as you start to figure out what has just happened and then the eye passes over and the full fury of the storm returns. Remember when you are in a storm and a sudden calm comes, that is the time to refortify and prepare to the backside of the storm. The eye is there to let you know that you have taken the best the storm has to offer and you made it, anything after that you will make it through also.