Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, a day in the lives of many Christians when we go to church to have ashes put on our foreheads, as a priest reminds us that we came from dust, and to dust we shall return.
Sounds like a rockin’ good time, yes? Well, to make that somber reminder even more so, Ash Wednesday kicks off 40 days of repentance and introspection. This period, known as Lent, is the time when we Christians are supposed to spend more time with God than usual. To think about what we’ve done, and what we wish we hadn’t done.
To repent when we need, and from that time of introspection–to arrive 40 days later at Easter, feeling spiritually and emotionally refreshed. I know that most of you reading this can relate to a similar ritual: for my Muslim friends, Ramadan is a long period of deep inner reflection, and spending time one-on-one with God.
During Lent it’s traditional to give up something–to “sacrifice” something for the 40 days of the season. Most people give up something like chocolate or coffee–and many of those do so with great flair, going on and on and on to anyone who’ll listen, about the fact that they’d KILL for a Hershey Bar.
But giving up my favorite chocolates isn’t going to make me a better soul, or help grow my relationship with God. No, in order to do that, I find that I need to give up something that I hold dear. Something that, if it was out of my Life, altogether, actually would draw me closer to God.
Every year I alternate between two things: I give up either Doubt or Fear, because those are things that separate me from living fully, or of knowing God as fully as I can while I’m here on this earthly plane. No Hershey Bar in the world, by its absence, can help make me a better spirit.
Every year on Lent, I give up one of those two things, and you can be assured that almost immediately–something will happen to challenge my ability to truly deny myself the self-indulgence of doubting, or fearing.
So I’m sure that it won’t surprise any of you when I tell you that, it figures, that, on Ash Wednesday evening–this year I gave up Doubt–my faith would be challenged as I found out that a being I treasure is sick, and (we don’t know?) perhaps dying…
Rachel Alexandra, a horse who touches my heart more than I can tell you, a horse with whom I had intimate interaction, is sick, my friends.
She had a beautiful baby girl–a treasure, with a heart-shaped star on her forehead– on the 12th, and by last night, Rachel had experienced a complication and subsequent surgery at Rood & Riddle in Lexington, Kentucky.
When I read this news, I exploded into tears of pain and “No, no, NO!!!” I love this beautiful, magnificent Horse of the Year more than you can imagine. One of the sweetest memories of my entire life took place in 2009, the day she won the Woodward in Saratoga. My left shoulder–which my girl, Karen, beat as she pulled my ponytail, screaming into my now-deaf left ear–never will be the same. We were in the backstretch at Saratoga, and saw Rachel destroy the field–again–and our hearts rode on her strong, sturdy back, back to the winner’s circle. From there, together, we all took flight to the moon, and beyond.
As I write this, I have no idea how the wonderful Queen is doing. I haven’t seen or heard any updates, which upsets me. I’m sure that the lack of information is upsetting a lot of you, as well. (We must try to understand, however, how it must be to own her–and to be completely centered on being with her. Barbara Banke’s first priority is to be with her horse, not to report to a gaggle of fans and journalists.)
The sole purpose of this posting is to let you know that Rachel Alexandra–America’s Big Horse, Horse of the Year for 2009–is sick, and needs your prayers. Wherever you are in the world–fan or not–Rachel needs you. Yes, she’s America’s Horse, but all horses are the concern of anyone who loves the species.
Today is Valentine’s Day–a day that traditionally finds me at my cynical best. But today I ask you to think about the concept of Love, and to send all your Love to Rachel. To pray with all your heart–your real heart, not the Hallmark heart-shaped cards that you’ll give your husband, wife, lover, friend, secret love.
The presence of your real, spiritual heart is requested on this day, to benefit a horse who shared her own heart, soul, guts and glory with millions of us. A horse who, during her racing career, gave her all, over and over again. A horse who inspired gigantic men–and tiny little girls–to cry, to laugh, to have faith.
I invite you to join me in a real Lent, a real Valentine’s Day…whatever your faith or non-faith, I invite you to spend at least today with me, looking within.
Now, take that inner search and turn it into the practice of genuine Love. (Yes, Love is a VERB, not a NOUN. It’s something you DO, not something you experience.)
Take that feeling of genuine Love, and turn it into prayer.
Pray for Rachel Alexandra. Pray for her tiny little newborn girl. Pray for Barbara Banke and everyone at Stonestreet.
I believe that God is in the business of resurrection. I must believe this today, for Rachel Alexandra, and aim my prayers with that intention.
Sans further ado, I’m going to steal Paul Harvey’s “So God Made a Farmer” speech–at least borrow the same concept–and tweak it. Those of us who love horses, racing and Rachel may see our beautiful heroine somewhere in these lines that came to me this morning. God bless you all, and thank you for taking time from your day to be with Rachel Alexandra in spirit, and in love.
God said,
“I need an animal who’s strong, and can help humans get the hard work done.”
So God made a horse.
And God said,
“I need an animal who’s also wonderful to behold, and reminds humans of the beauty of My Heaven, itself.”
So God made a horse.
Then, God said,
“I want to make an animal who’s gentle of heart, to remind humans of their own gentleness within. An animal who’s so innocent, kind and accepting of humans and their frailties that these attributes, also, remind people of My own mercy, kindness and acceptance.”
So God made a horse.
The picture wasn’t quite complete. So God said,
“I’d like to create an animal who’s very large, and yet very childlike. An animal whose instincts tell it to flee danger–yet who somehow convinces itself to trust humans who are good to them, and to form bonds and relationships.”
So God made a horse.
Then God realized that other attributes were necessary in order to make this most-perfect of creations. And God said,
“I need an animal who can run faster than the wind–a creature who reminds human hearts of the cosmos, itself, when she runs. An animal who creates thunder and earthquakes when she pounds past observing people. An animal whose very presence brings mere mortals to tears, and to joy and to the entire range of emotions that I gave them.”
So God made a horse.
“Just one more thing,” said God, “I want to create one particular horse who challenges cultural biases–who never backs down from a challenge–whose human owner is endowed with exceptional love for her, who always looks out for her best during her career as a working girl. I need a horse who embodies the best of My beauty, strength, speed, power–and who makes even unbelievers wonder if perhaps I do exist.”
So God made Rachel Alexandra. And God saw that this was good.
Much like you, I found myself preparing for Lent the week before Ash Wednesday. There is a time when the observance of 40 days introspection, self-denial and contemplation is at hand. If not for it’s annual occurrence, I,undoubtedly, succumb to worldly apathy, except in times of personal trouble. (Isn’t that the way of humanness?)
Rachel Alexandra was the furthest thing on my mind; Never mind that I can wax poetic ad infinitum when she is the subject.
So it was late at night. I found myself checking the latest news from cyberspace before sleep. I read the news about Rachel’s postpartum emergency and, like you, my heart pinged. Oh! My God. (find out more stay on top pray post pray what else is there pray go deep pray for her)
We find ourselves, once again, in touch with her transcendent qualities of greatness – How she touches us so. How we look to her in admiration and connect with her specialness. Beauty without adorn. Courage without fear. Self-confidence without show or arrogance. Qualities to which we aspire.
We pray for you Rachel, that you continue your ordinary life to be a guiding star to us who know you. We pray for the girl who we loved in triumph and in defeat. We see you as the equine figure of our own possibilities. We keep you in our prayers, that you know our love and you experience His.
As we know our Lord’s humanity and our redemption through his example, let us keep your example before us as a measure of faith.
Thank you, dear AlphaMare, for your dedication. For you help us to understand the role of the horse in our lives. Writing, the way you do, reminds us of how our spirituality is the link in our interconnections… human and otherwise. Pray for us all.
Oh, wow, Joani. What you wrote is so beautiful, I’m moved to tears. YOUR heart and words say it all–about Rachel, about the Lord–I can add nothing, only thank you so much for sharing the contents of your soul with us.
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