Wild horses within

I thought about Jamie as I watched the pack of wild horses at the auction. A pack of 11 yearlings milled in a holding pen. The bay colt was obviously the herd leader, panicking at the slightest movement and bringing the entire herd crashing into the boundaries. When some hay was tossed into a feeder, he battled the others, teeth bared and hooves threatening, until he had the best place at the feed bunk. A timid little filly, her head down in desperate hunger and panic, tried to sneak a nibble. The colt bared his teeth and left a mark on her back. She retreated; he ate.

A filly perked up her head. I wanted to bring her out, to brush her white blaze and comb her golden mane. She held my gaze for a short moment. But the herd then crashed into her, sucking her into the middle. She lost sight of me and wandered within the churning legs.

This young pack of horses didn’t trust each other. But they were more afraid of being alone. They clung together even as they abused each other. They didn’t see anything bigger or better than the mob.

We met Jamie after she got out of jail. She had come out of the swirling cell, slammed by a churning band. She needed food, furniture and diapers for her baby. Our church gathered formula and soup, a couch, sheets, toothpaste.

She caught our eyes for a moment or two and we wanted to bring her out, to comfort her and support her. She held our gaze for a short moment but the herd crashed into her. She wanted to go to school, to get her GED, to find a decent job for herself and her baby. She’d already lost two children to social services and wanted to hold on. But the wild herd sucked her in. Last I heard, she was back in the churning cell, surrounded by a roiling band as confused as she was. I don’t know where her baby went.

Wild horses surround us. Do we care? What say you?

A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice

Isaiah 42:3