God and Horses

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was put down Monday after complications from his gruesome breakdown at last year's Preakness, ending an eight-month ordeal that prompted an outpouring of support across the country.

As the newscast came forth one news person remarked that the horse had changed people’s lives. "This horse was a hero," said David Switzer, executive director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association. When Barbaro broke down, his right hind leg flared out awkwardly as jockey Edgar Prado jumped off and tried to steady the ailing horse. Race fans at Pimlico wept. Within 24 hours the entire nation seemed to be caught up in a "Barbaro watch," waiting for any news.

Don’t get me wrong – I love animals. But it seems to me that we have a weird and inconsistent value system in America. Let me explain.

First, God is the only one that can change lives. He uses others and maybe even animals. But the problem is that we end up worshipping the thing and not God.

Second, we have a distorted value of animals. I understand that if you kill an eagle or even an unborn eagle that you have committed a crime. But in our country you can kill the unborn child and everything is okay. Am I the only one that sees the absurdity in that?

God gave us animals to love, but not be our companions. God gave us each other for that. Horses may be neat, but they aren’t heroes. Heroes are the people of faith (Hebrews 11). Feed your dog. Keep your cat warm, but love people and God. That is good!

Sid