I want to be a light for you

*

shining the way

down the path,

to the doors,

around the obstacles.

*

I have no strength to give you,

No solutions to offer you.

*

I can’t pick you up,

can’t carry you,

can’t force you to see.

 *

All I can do

is say -

Hey look!

Did you notice that?

Do you see the choice?

Can you feel your power?

*

All I can do is

Light up the dark places -

show you another way to walk.

 *

All I can do is

Shine a light in your heart,

point out what was already there -

*

which is Strength Unimaginable

Goodness Unrealized

Resilience Untapped.

*

My light can speak truth

Into your dark places.

 *

Let me be your light.

I asked them to tell me about someone they trust – someone who came through for them time after time, had their back. It was a risky question seeing as how I know for a fact that people indeed do not come through for them: dads in jail, mothers in rehab, bullies at school, teachers who have written them off.

I fought tears as they threw their hands in the air and began to describe cats they loved because the cats loved them, and dogs who ran to the door to meet them the minute they got home from school. There in front of their middle school peers, completely unabashed, they spoke lovingly in childlike voices about their pets.

I’m pretty lucky in my line of work to witness miracles every day, big and small. I get to see totally wigged out, triggered boys go from sobbing to absolute joy when they get in the presence of their horse. I witness kids tough as boot leather turn to mush as their horse relaxes under their caress.

Without speaking, the animals in their lives are teaching them to trust, to have empathy, to love unconditionally. Kids who have no reason to trust, and in fact every reason NOT to trust, have no problem putting their faith in a 1000 pound prey animal. They understand the prey instinct that the horse has, and they honor it and care for it. They’ve been the prey, in ways I can’t describe to you here. But, I don’t have to explain much; the horse says everything for me.

When their dad says they’re not worth his time, the horse says, “I love you…be in my herd!”

When their moms, by not showing up night after night, say they’re unlovable, the horse accepts them unconditionally.

When their teachers say they’re deadbeats, trouble, unfocused…the horse sees right through that to their mindfulness. The horse asks for their leadership, and they come through for their horses every time.

Anxiety is traded for calm.

Exhaustion for energy.

Irritation for optimism.

Worry for ease.

Rejection for acceptance.

And bless those horses – they take all of that negative energy out to the pasture, eat their feelings for the rest of the afternoon, and then forget about it, eager to connect with the kid the next time.

Horses are countering the negative forces in their lives, turning the tide on their trauma histories and giving them a reason to see the world anew, and to see themselves through the eyes of a horse.

I had a pretty tough cookie this week say to me, “When I got here, I was angry. I didn’t even know why. But now? I just feel happy inside.”

And that, folks, is the power of the horse. My only problem is that now I have 16 middle-schoolers that want to live with me at work.

No one ever wrote your name in the stars.

*

Never sat under the night sky

And pointed up, saying,

See how it makes an A, and an N?

You belong to the universe.

You’re made of stardust, child.

*

No one laid under a tree

In the shade on a sunny day

And pointed up, saying,

See how the world spins?

How all of nature is swirling with joy

Over who you will be?

You belong to Mother Nature.

You’re made of the earth, child.

*

No one wrapped you up

When you were angry or sad or scared

And pointed to your heart, saying,

See how you feel?

It’s okay. I’m here.

You belong to me.

You’re made of me, child.

*

Who taught you to

Narrow your eyes

Suspicious of everything

And everyone

Who will let you down…

Because they will let you down?

*

Who has said,

You’re not stardust,

You’re just dust.

You’re not made of earth,

You’re just dirt.

You’re not made of me,

I don’t want you?

*

Give me a chance, child.

*

Let me show you

The glimmer of stardust in your eyes,

And how your horse responds

To the earth in your body,

You two made of the same clay.

*

Let me show you

That you are me,

*

And I am you,

*

And we belong to each other,

*

And that it is safe to hope.

*

“The cosmos is with us. We are made of star-stuff. We are the way for the universe to know itself.”

- Carl Sagan