TheLeaderInside.com

The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life,
and that in turn another,
until who knows where the trembling stops
or in what far place my touch will be felt.

~~~ Frederick Buechner

I don’t know who the author of this lovely essay is, but it is poignant and powerful, and I wanted to share it with you.

Just up the road from our house is a field that is home to two horses. From a distance, they look very much alike, but if you stop your car or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing.

Looking into the eyes of one horse, you will discover that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.
This alone is amazing.

If you’re close enough and listen carefully, you will hear the sound of a bell. Then you will see that it comes from the other horse. Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.

As you stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see that she is always checking on him, and that he listens for her bell and walks slowly to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray. When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back to make sure her friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, we aren’t thrown away just because we’re not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. Instead, others come into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the beautiful bells of those placed in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others along their own difficult paths.

Please listen for my bell and I’ll listen for yours.