Refuge Farms (www.refugefarms.org)

Pastor Jean Gfall came in to my life about 2 years ago. I was working the part-time job of Parish Secretary when Pastor Jean became our Interim Pastor. She was kind, and gentle, and smiled a big, genuine smile. The Spirit obvioulsy filled her and she was immediately a friend to me.

Throughout our working together, we shared many stories of life's travels, our worries, our victories, and mostly our wonderings about "How" and "Why" and "What". Pastor Jean knew and loved horses, too, and so our relationship grew based upon common beliefs, goals, and the true and honest love of the horse.

Pastor Jean is moving on to a new Parish this week. She has a wonderful opportunity and I am thrilled for her. A bit sad for me, but thrilled for her. I truly trust that our friendship is bigger than just the convenience of being in church together and so I know she and I will continue to share and she will, from her perspective, continue to guide and listen to me about my plans and worries for THE FARM.

This past Wednesday, on the Wednesday of her final Confirmation Class for the Parish, Pastor Jean brought the class to Refuge Farms. And, I am pleased to say, the class came to THE FARM not at Jean's urging but at their own request. This same class had been to THE FARM a little over a year ago on the night they studied the "Thou shalt not kill" commandment. That night we talked about Slim and Ima and Jimmer and Jerry. And we discussed how killing could be not only of the body but also of the spirit and of the mind. I enjoyed these people and had hoped that these young adults had enjoyed what I had to offer - my backyard and my horses.

This year it was amazing for me to see how much each teenager had grown and had matured so in such few months. We spent time with Lanna and Jeri-Ann, and then we all moved in to the barn. Unit and Babee Joy were tied for the pettings and fun - the kind of noisy fun that teenagers will have with baby horses.

I was a bit cautious and doing my very best to observe the smallest clue the horses were giving off. These horses were young and the energy and noise of so many teens may cause tensions in the horses. Safety is paramount....

But I was soon to see that even these babies were in tune with their mission. These yearling horses were already full blown ministers of Refuge Farms. They stood calmly and allowed the touching and the noise and the closeness and the giggling....They seemed to understand! Already!
Pastor Jean then asked if we could bless the babies. Oh, please!

We blessed Unit first. Our little girl who had come to us with those huge cataracts and now, through the gifts of others, could see us and the other horses and was running and playing with the herd. Unit had been given the gift of sight by the Magic of THE FARM. But Unit's gifts to us had already far outweighted our gift to her.

Pastor Jean called the class over and everyone placed their hands on Unit while she blessed this ever-so-special creature. "May you see far more than us, Unit, and continue to show us what it is that you see....already so much more than us...". The blessing ended with "may you live long and prosper." Amen.

Next we moved over to Babee Joy. Now Babee Joy is the same age as Unit but easily twice the size of her pasture pal. And Babee Joy is so mellow that at times I will push on her to get her just to move. Completely at ease, Babee Joy stood watching this gathering around Unit. A bit curious, but really just kind of hangin' around....

Then the gathering moved to Babee Joy! Now alert, she positioned herself against the wall and remained calm until the touching....all those hands! all these people! Her eyes were wide open and she held her breath....but she stood while Pastor Jean proclaimed her to be The Joy that she truly is - a blessing of hope and health - "may you live long and prosper, Babee Joy." Amen.

Our latest baby - the first ever baby born on Refuge Farms - was last to be blessed. Jeri-Ann stood with her mama in the corral curious about all the commotion and smelling the bonfire and hearing the noise....Much to see! Much to smell! And much to hear!. Jeri-Ann did just what baby horses do with all of this newness - she ran and kicked the air and was truly air-borne at times! We all stood and just watched her. She showed us her power and agility and quickness and yes, a touch of clumsiness yet, too!

So with safety in mind, Pastor Jean and I entered the corral while the class stood just outside of the board fence. Once again Jean spoke of health and the gifts that this horse will bring to others. The gift of healing and hope and comfort. The gift of life. "...and so, Jeri-Ann, may you live long and prosper." Amen.

It was a small thing, these blessings. Didn't take much time and really was nothing fancy. No big ceremony and no announcements or planning. Just something Jean and I had talked about and we had wanted to do for quite a while now.

The sky was clear. The stars were out in abundance. The air was crisp and you could see your breathe. The fire was warm and smelled very good to me. I soaked it all in.... This was a first for me and for THE FARM. And inside, I felt the final piece of something slip in to place.

NOW I could freely use these 3 babies for the purpose of THE FARM.

NOW these special additions could be "put to work" healing and continuing their journey with us.

NOW there was no turning back. We had babies on THE FARM. And it was good. It was right. And it was part of The Plan!

Who will benefit from these 3 babies? Who will find comfort in them? Humor in them? Joy in them? Who and how many will come to love them? And return to see them? Who will they help when no human being can help? Who and how many indeed! Oh, what possibilities! What a precious gift each one is!

And just what is my job in all of this? My job is to watch over and to care for them. To keep them and to care for them and provide safety for them. To make them availble for whomever decides to come and spend time with them.

I am just the caretaker. These babies are the gifts. These babies are the blessings. And now they are blessed. Amen.