For example, if we completed a study book on the life of Jesus or one of the guys from the Old Testament we could earn a trip to the local water park. That was a biggie. There were smaller rewards as well. Like if we memorized a verse or two we would get a delicious carob bar. Yes, carob. And yes, somehow we learned to love these distant cousins to the Hershey bar. I can actually still almost taste them and oddly enough I'm starting to crave one right now!
Weird.
Anyway, one summer Psalm 23 was on the list to memorize. I think the reward was a giant cone of Tofutti "Ice Cream". Leave me alone about it, k? So I'm in the backseat of the car with Kim probably all headed to health food store and she recites Psalm 23 perfectly. She'd been studying all day. So I pipe up (irritating little sister that I am) and say, "I'm ready to do Psalm 23 also!" (Death stare from Kim who knows I've just now read the thing over once or twice and am going to use my amazing short term memory skills to hone in on her newly found victory.) She tried to convince my step-mom that I was a lowsy cheater but I think the fact that I was cramming scripture into my brain was the whole point of this exercise for my step-mom and any way that it got in there was good enough for her. So, I did it, with maybe a small stumble on a word here or there but quite proudly flashed a missing tooth grin at my big sis and then asked when we'd be heading to the local TCBY. Funny thing is that I still remember that Psalm. It stuck with me much like the pineapple "ice cream" cousin stuck all around my mouth.
I was thinking about that Psalm recently though and the only thing that bothers me about it is that it seems a little narrow in it's audience. I mean how many sheep or shepherds do you know? I started thinking of all the ways this Psalm could be re-worded to really hit home to more people:
The Lord is my taxi driver, I shall not worry how I will get from my hotel to the airport.
The Lord is my massage therapist, I will soon be free from this agonizing knot under my right shoulder blade.
The Lord is my morning cup of Earl Gray tea, I will soon be awake enough to enjoy it.
The Lord is my dentist..... no, that won't work.
But not wanting to stray to much from the original text I thought it best in the end to stay in the animal category. And so I chose the animal most close to my heart - the horse.
So here is my version of Psalm 23 in my equestrian language:
The Lord is my rider, I don't need to worry about a thing!
I am so well fed that even when I'm turned out in my lush green pastures I have the luxury to lay down and nap in the sun.
He leads me out to the clean water so I can drink in peace.
He guides me with gentle but firm hands so that I follow exactly where He wants me to go and people are in awe of what an amazing rider He is.
Even when we go down the steepest trails I'm never worried that I won't be able to make it because He moves me over to the surest footing with a press of his leg and squeeze of the reins so perfectly and clearly to direct my every step and bring me safely to the other side.
He gives me a huge pile of hay and a full scoop of grain and never lets the other horses chase me away from it.
He curries my coat and rubs sweet oils into my mane and tail. I have more than I need.
His goodness and love rest on me always like the warm blanket he covers me with each night.
I will live in His barn forever!
Happy Trails for now until we chat again!
s
