Runner quickly said no and turned away as
tears began to well up in his eyes. He
didn’t understand why he was crying only that there was a great sadness in his
heart. He felt so much emotion and mere
words could never explain it. The Owner
simply said, “Let’s go for a ride.” and turned to get the saddlery.
Runner stood too nervous to move as the
Owner dressed him for the ride. He looked
anxiously about him when the Owner mounted him and prodded him to start
moving. Step, step, step, he began to
walk. As the horse had feared, he was
being led to the gap in the fence. The
other horses gave him looks of contempt as they rode by. When they reached the edge of The Land Beyond
Runner shut his eyes. He wanted to
protest. He wanted to stop. He wanted to fight but he just couldn’t. His eyes were tightly closed for a few more
steps when he heard one of the other horses shout, “Don’t bother coming back!” He started to speak in his own defense when
felt a swift kick in the ribs. Startled,
he began to run.
He ran and ran with tears streaming down
his face. He was unsure of how he
felt. He wanted to savor all that he was
feeling but was afraid that it was wrong.
Was this what he was looking for?
He felt whole, free, and a little bit at peace. Horse and rider galloped off into the
distance.
The euphoria of freedom faded as fatigue
began to wear on him. He slowed down to
a trot and finally to a walk when the Owner began to speak. “This is the way it is supposed to be. You have the world to roam and explore and I
will guide you. Unlike before when you
didn’t know what was best, I will shepherd you to the best water holes and
grazing land. It won’t be hit or miss.
Runner asked, “Why is there a gap in the
fence?”
“Long ago, some horses put the fence but I
took it down. The horses rebuilt it
again and I tore it down again. It was a
continuous cycle that ended when I made the fence with a missing section. I continue to ensure the section missing
remains. Whenever one of them is ready,
they can ride out. The fence represents
their stubbornness and unwillingness to live where they belong.”
Runner remembered his dream and felt a wave
of emotion wash over him. Runner
murmured to himself, “I can run in the Valley of Dreams and The Land Beyond.” The Owner smiled and nodded.
He was free. The world was once again his to explore, but now
he had someone to take care of him. The
world is not so much of an evil place as it is a lost place in need of someone
to care for it. With a heartfelt cry of
exaltation the horse ran off to find his old friends and introduce them to the
Owner. The Owner felt Runner’s rapture
and rejoiced with him.
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