It's been quite awhile since my last blog. I realise it's been a long time between drinks. It was never my intention for it to be so long, but the last couple of months have presented challenges that have required much of my attention. I do apologise and hope that I will be able to communicate more regularly in the future.

When I became a Christian, I wondered how I could effectively share my faith with other people. It wasn't long before I learnt that there was a right way to do it. That confused and bewildered me as I felt that the right way wasn't my style. When I asked questions about other ways, it often came across as "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". The following is an example of how change was rewarded with a far better outcome. I'll let you read on and hopefully you'll see what I mean.

The Horse Whisperer

During a 60 Minutes program, Monty Roberts taught the world his method of horse whispering. It involves him getting into the corral with the untamed mustang and staying as far from the animal as possible, without leaving the enclosure. He also refuses to allow eye contact between himself and the horse. By moving slowly, but surely, away from the horse and by keeping his head averted from the animal's gaze, Monty slowly draws the horse to himself. Even though the beast is pounding the earth with his hoof and snorting and circling the corral with great speed, Monty keeps circling slowly away from the horse. He won't look at it. He won't approach it. As astounding as it sounds, within an hour Monty can have a wild mustang saddled and carrying a rider quite happily. When asked his secret, he says, "These animals need contact with others so much, they would rather befriend their enemy than be left alone." When he discovered his method of "whispering" into the horse's deepest longing, he told his weather-beaten father, uncles and brothers that there was no longer the need to crush the mustang's spirit. To this day, in spite of the evidence that it works, Montana ranchmen still use the traditional approach. Monty's story reminds us of the church. Even though he has discovered an effective way of listening to horses (his own term), the old Montana horsemen won't budge. They've been breaking horses their way for generations. Why should they change now? The church might say, we've been "breaking" sinners like them for generations. Why should we change now?