CHEROKEE FACES HIS FEAR

This is not your normal horse "photo opportunity" (unless you are working as a photographer for a horse training magazine and demonstrating the results of a process called "sacking out"). It's been a long 3 weeks. After spending 2 weeks, and many late hours, working with 2 separate audits, implementing audit suggestions, extra meetings, re-organizing all MMS office supplies, beginning the training of a "back up" for my position, taking the time to shop (and replace) my printer, and this week catching up on my routine office work. Finally, it was "Horse Tuesday". As much as I was looking forward to the day, not much went "right". The morning was cold, my steady Haflinger demonstrated a very stubborn side that was hard for either beginner rider to overcome. My Paint gelding decided there were "scary monsters" under the tarp covering Dennis' log splitter and took me for a wild ride that only a teenage boy or girl could really enjoy. That made it necessary to spend extra time settling him down before he could be put up in the barn (dashing the hopes of rider number 2 for another lesson in trotting). Our Haflinger colt (Spirit) was the only bright spot of the day as rider number 2 calmly led him through the obstacle course. Wednesday and Thursday the sun came out, I finished my work at MMS early, and Cherokee and I went to work. By the time we were done, Cherokee was walking past tarps blowing in the wind, dragging tarps behind him, walking over tarps, and even wearing the lastest in horse tarp fashion. "Sacking out" is a process that requires a lot of patience. A variety of "spooky" objects are introduced until your horse accepts them. A lot of repetition is involved. It is an ongoing process, not a "one-time cure all". As good as Cherokee is today, tomorrow he may act like he's never seen a tarp before and the process will need to begin again. Patience, repetition, success. Perhaps God is preparing me to be an MMS Team Leader :-) While Cherokee and I were working hard, several others were working hard at MMS getting a Cessna for South Africa ready for an inspection, a Cessna for Hondorus ready to replace another plane, and an airplane for Moody Aviation. These have been long term projects. The guys have had a lot of practice patiently working when the projects have seemed overwhelming. Lots of reinforcement (both in the airplane structure and apprentice's knowledge) is going on. The result - impacting the world for God's kingdom. That makes it all worthwhile.