Ever wonder why, in acres of pasture, horses choose the same well-worn path?
A predictable environment for a prey animal is a safe environment. Horses thrive on a predictable training system and feeding schedule. No surprises.
I guess in many ways we’re the same, don’t you think?
But how do we head into and unpredictable New Year… or for that matter, even into next Monday?
Our modern world allows us to dress to the weather forecast and time our fill-ups to gas price projections. Auto-play takes the guesswork out of what happens next on my screen. Amazon reviews take the guesswork out of what I purchase next.
No surprises, minimal inconveniences.
A historian nailed it in a recent CBC interview, “Our capacity to tolerate uncertainty has lessened because of how highly predictive our world is. Data predicts everything.”
Almost everything.
“We are all subject to the things we can’t or don’t know how to tame, no matter how tailored our environments.“ Author and musician, Kelly Minter.
So how do we head into unpredictable 2023?
A horse steps into the unknown of a horse trailer by trusting in the one who’s leading him.
At the in-gate of each New Year, I remind myself:
• God has the helicopter view
• He is good
So I’ll trust Him to step into the unpredictable.
Musician Ginny Owens says it well. Being blind, Ginny has a unique perspective on stepping into the unknown.
“I don’t know much, that much is true
the queries are endless, my answers are few
but life has caused me to conclude
I can face what I don’t know
by singing about what I do.”