Look, a gift horse...

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It is a strange feeling, allowing our emotions free rein. It is uncomfortable. It is frightening. It is unknown.

It is unknown because, for all of our lives, we have hobbled ourselves in one way or other. Like we have been tethered to a pole, planted in the center of a small corral. And every day, all day long, we plod around the same circular path, over and over, wearing an ever deepening groove beneath our feet.

Then, suddenly, one morning we awaken to find that the bridle and painful bit, the tether, the ground pole, all are gone. When we look around in wonder, we see the corral fence is no longer present as well. The sun is high and radiant. A refreshing breeze ruffles the mane at our withers. As far as we can see the terrain is open, inviting, come hither. The scent of fresh, clean, cold water fills our nostrils, beckoning us onward.

And then we are running, like there’s no tomorrow. Head down. Heart pumping. Lungs heaving. Muscles stretching. Hooves thundering. Flat out. Perhaps for the first time in this short memory life. It is exhilarating. Yet, it is scary too. Because, it is unknown.

We have never before seen nor heard or felt anything like this. Something tickles our hindbrain, go back before it is too late. But it feels so good, we simply cannot stop. We choose to squelch the disquiet and keep going, wherever this new path leads.

The water pulls us forth like a magnet, like gravity. And, we realize that it doesn’t matter which way we run: The water surrounds us, everywhere. We happily anticipate dunking our head and quaffing an huge draught. We can’t wait to jump in feet first and splash about with childlike abandon. We think: Tha’ lil’ critter yankin’ m’tail better, by jupiter, like water, ‘cause baby we goin’ in! And faster we gallop, sprinting ahead.

Still, no matter how freeing this new feeling is, fear lingers. Fear of failure; of abandonment. Fear of change. Fear that we don’t know where we are going. Fear that we are leaving something important behind. Fear that we may become lost, that we may never be able to get back home. Fear of the unknown.

Hmm. But, you know, fear is safe. It feels like a secure place to shelter; to ride out the unknowable maelstrom.

Yet, fear can be transmuted. Fear can be embraced. Fear can become like a cherished old friend, helping us on our journey—wherever the four winds may take us.

Thank you, fear...

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