Over the past 8 months horse-racing and some of the rest of the world watched with interest the story of the extraordinary attempts made to save the life of the Kentucky Derby winning thoroughbred, Barbaro.
Barbaro, even to those of us who know extremely little about horse racing, was amazing in his win last Spring in the Derby. However, in a few horrific moments, the meteoric rise ended on national TV just amazing, athletic strides into the Preakness. One of Barbaro's hind legs shattered in virtually countless places. Even my small children could tell something was wrong. "What will happen to him now," my daughter asked nervously as she looked at the colt hobbling around on an obviously injured leg. "I don't know," was the only answer I had at the time.
In the 8 months following his breakdown, Barbaro's owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson spent what were likely millions of dollars allowing equine surgeons to go to previously unheard of lengths in an attempt to save the champion thoroughbred.
Frankly, there will be many, and I include myself in the group who asked Monday (when the decision was made to put the magnificent colt down), "Were there not other, more productive uses for the money the Jackson's spent?" Others likely asked, "Is a horse really worth such time, effort and money?"
Yet, in just a few days, I believe there are a number of valuable, important and often overlooked lessons present in the Barbaro recovery tale. While the philosophical questions regarding the money have some merit, I have changed my position somewhat and believe there are lessons they Jacksons provided in their efforts to save Barbaro, which are absolutely worth considering. After all, the money is gone. Perhaps these lessons are a more fitting legacy to that magnificent Spring day in Kentucky.
The lessons include:
1. Deep abiding love can be a painful thing. Love something deeply and inevitably part of the price of that love will pain. Ms. Jackson in commenting on the decision to put the horse down commented, "Grief was the price they all paid for love." Yet, despite its potential pain (or perhaps because of its potential pain), love provides passion and purpose in life.
2. Deep abiding love is expensive. As alluded to above, the Jackson's, their insurance, someone paid a great deal of money for the efforts made to save the colt. Forget the philosophical argument regarding the "Is it valid," and focus simply on what parties were willing to invest in something they loved. Yes, it might have been returned in stud-fees. However, they had no promise such would be the case and they invested anyway.
3. Deep abiding love is willing to persevere despite adversity. How much easier would it have been on the Jacksons to have put Barbaro down last Spring? They could have avoided what must have been an emotional roller-coaster over the past 8 months. Yet, they were willing to set their own emotional comfort aside in an effort to save the colt.
4. Deep abiding love allows for the counsel of others. The Jacksons sought out and trusted surgeons whose training and expertise provided the greatest opportunity for the horse to survive. The Jacksons do not have appeared to have allowed their considerable financial success prior to Barbaro to obscure their own assessment of their limitations. Thus, they sought out other wise individuals to assist them in extending their love to the animal.
What do these 4 lessons have to do with you and I?
Plenty.
As I look at my relationships; a talented, patient wife; fun, loving, healthy children; an extended family who loves me; and a number of talented, encouraging amazing friends do they see me giving my relationships with them manifesting the same love Roy and Gretchen Jackson gave a horse?
I am challenged as I think about the question.
Finally, I realize how much I am loved in the words found in Philipians 2:1-11. Those are dangerous words. Allowing myself to feel their depth, challenges me to ask, if some would go to the lengths above to save a horse (even an amazing one) and the Creator would leave eternity to love me - why are those I love not getting my very best efforts to love them, regardless of whether they respond as I'd prefer?
What will the legacy of my love be?
What about yours?
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