The American Horse

As I took my middle son to preschool the other morning, I noticed the sermon title upon the church building sign - “Chaos, Fear, and Faith”. I don’t attend this church, but wished I could have attended this sermon – I like the title, I guess it’s got my recent line of thinking written all over it.

This chaos, fear and faith has indeed been on my mind quite often lately. I relate it to Chaos being the economy and politics and the divergence of both from the middle; Fear being the tactics used to cause this Chaos, which may actually be grounded in Fear… of change; and finally Faith – my faith is questioning nonstop – why? why? why? I surely don’t know why, but still find that my faith always remains, though I question it yearly, monthly, daily, hourly, minutely, secondly… faith in what? Faith in whom?

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To me all this stuff is encapsulated in the American Horse. The American Dream, Machine, Movement, Enterprise, all under the umbrella of liberty – liberty and justice for all...

I love horses. Though I have literally ridden probably two in my life – so much of my love for horses is grounded in fantasy – but here is what I envision: An American spotted pony (a mustang?) riding across the Great Plains, riding west to some distant destination, free as can be to wander at great speed to a local watering hole or something.

And who can tame the American Horse? Or.... is the US going to get caught in a health insurance or European economy mess (chaos)? Or... is the US losing ground in the worldwide competition to lead and influence (fear)? Or.... what of these amendments and Brotherhoods and values (faith)?

Liberty and justice for all - according to whom? Doesn't it seem many decisions made lately favor certain party's or organizations or corporations? Is there still space to run free and open or are we becoming compartmentalized by political districts and corporate cubes? Can the crust hold the American Pie or will it spill out?

We will never completely overcome chaos – homelessness, labor riots, weather events - it's how we deal with chaos that matters (ie. Duluth, MN).

We will never completely overcome fear – fear of the unknown – it is a natural instinct and those nefarious folk who use fear will get their karma eventually.

We will never completely overcome faith – I seriously question those who have all the answers from any religion or belief system and think this is the reason truly wise people turn other folks' questions back on themselves.

Somewhere on some plain the American Horse gallops – on the interstate, perhaps off towards Denver, be it boom or bust. How do we fight the fear, burst through the chaos and find the faith to ride it?