Ah, yes. Our Scripture reading for the day:
Numbers 22:21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab....
Once in a moon and seven moons, it occurreth to me that I might speak in the King's English. Oh, that thou wouldst shew thy maidservant kindness and cutteth me some slack for what I deem to be unendingly hilarious: the indisputable truth that a blessed ass ruleth my pasture.
Yesterday, a cold front whipped through North Texas with a chilling wind and a few snow flurries. It bit right through my WalMart Fleece and stung my skin as I ran the 6 feet through the breezeway to the office. It was a harsh commute.
My husband, though sometimes gruff on the outside when it comes to my donkey, has a soft spot for him. He has allowed Flash to stand around and watch him work on the barn, as he has been converting two stalls into a workshop recently. If Flash could smoke and drink a beer, I believe he would; that's just the kind of guy he is. Leanin' up against the wall, jest shootin' the breeze. Yessir.
But Flash has no concept of personal space. He hangs his giant head over Tom's shoulder as he crouches over a 2 x 4 plank, generally inhibiting him from working. And he'll crowd right after him into the tack room, stepping up into the tiny space with all four goofy hooves, and then just....stand there. Looking straight ahead. Umm, Flash, there's not enough room for one human in here, let alone a mangey beast of burden. You're gonna have to move your....well, you know.
Back to my story.
With the wind whipping up, Tom felt sorry for old Flash out there and I saw him carry a bucket of feed corn out to the barn. He whistled several times.
Nothing. Flash was nowhere in sight.
I went outside and called out to my man, "Are you a big softie, or what??"
He grinned and shrugged, then spun around to see Flash galloping across the pasture toward him, full speed.
Oh, he was a picture! There, with the wind blowing the leaves and grass in a tumult of approaching winter, came Flash with his nostrils flaring and broomy mane flying. Looking like the thoroughbred he thinks he is, his gait was suddenly smooth and fluid for at least 4 or 5 seconds. He tossed his head and pulled up at the gate where I was standing. I could see his sides start to work up a bellow, much like a bagpipe gets filled with wind before the real sound comes out.
Before he could blow, Tom whistled again to show him that the corn was in the barn and not at the gate. It took Flash a moment to figure it out, and then, like a shot he was off and galloping for the barn and the nice man with the bucket. He rounded the corner like a short-track speed skater leaning into the curve. Then he skidded to a full stop just before plowing him over, his front legs straight out in front and his hind end nearly touching the ground in a cloud of dust.
"Whoo-ee!" Tom said, as he wiped his feet to come back inside. "I didn't know that guy could haul ass like that!"
He is sooo eloquent.
Today's Small Thing is to haul some.....well, ass. It's only scriptural, after all.
A short burst of focused energy on any given task will constitute our challenge today. I've noticed that, when I have all day to do something, it takes me all day. And when I have 15 minutes to do something, that's about how long it takes me to do it. So rather than plodding, let's pick something to really gallop for and see if we can discover the thoroughbred of work ethic within us.
POINTS: 40 for hauling some. You pick whatever needs hauling.
BONUS: 20 for sharing in a comment or blogging about it! Just let us know if you post about it so we can come and read all about it!
My task will be to get ready for my college kids to come home and decorate the tree today. They are making a special trip because they know how much it means to their brother, the only one left at home. Isn't that nice? But I want to be prepared so we can just have fun when they get here. I will go through the boxes and sort out what we don't need.....with gusto!
