Miraculous Animals...

It began with poverty, with depression and recession so overwhelming, men women and children faced starvation.

It began with wondering where God was in all the events circling the globe.

The Great War (WWI), The Great Depression, WWII, the devastating Vietnam War...each one had an animal of such heroics, such bravery and stalwartness of heart, it brought hope to a nation.

We must first look to the horse that inspired 'Warhorse' a movie directed by Stephen Spielberg. He was dubbed Warrior, fitting for an animal that refused to die and carried out feets of such bravery and dedication, service and resilience, he was awarded The Dickin Medal, the equivalent of the Victoria Cross.

Soldiers fighting to stand, let alone fight, found courage deep down when presented with stories of this brave warrior.

Some years later, back home in North America, there was a racehorse bringing hope to a nation crippled by the Great Depression.

Seabiscuit...an angry broken horse, misunderstood and misjudged, thought to be worth nothing, seen by a man who had lost much and given a second chance. A true underdog...

Beating the amazing War Admiral, a horse much praised for his stamina and large build, he lifted the spirits of a Nation in need of hope.

When at our lowest, wondering at a world gone mad, these harbingers of possibility and hope, were graced by God with something more, something magical.

Like Secretariat...1973...a country torn apart by a war that was hotly debated and contested.

This great athlete was given to us in 1970, sustained by a woman battling loss and dictates of what being a housewife should be doing.

This bringer of life, of hope, of joy and adoration? His record runs in the Kentucky Derby stands today, FIFTY-THREE YEARS LATER. Miraculous? Magical? God-given?

They are given to us, to remind us of the supernatural, the magical...that hope exists...

That we can fly, accomplish anything if we fight hard enough.

They remind us of bravery...of courage and stamina.

How is it possible that something that magnificent exists without the miracle of God somehow being involved?

There is a story related by a family member of his early days and Secretariats lack of drive on the racetrack at two years old. Lazy, settling back against the gate with no plans to explode out and beat the other runners.

Until one day a tremendous storm hit that famous horse farm in Kentucky.

Lightning struck across the sky and arrowed straight down to the earth...thunder rolled, peeling behind clouds of the darkest hue.

Every one of the farms horses ran furiously for the safety of the barns.

All but one...

Secretariat...

He ran straight out into the storm, mane and tail streaming out behind him, as though daring the storm to fight him.

One old timer spoke of that moment with awe and wonder. "it was as though God came down to meet with the mighty red stallion and give him his orders."

Every race after was a miracle to behold.

He ate up the ground with a terrifying determination.

God given...a much needed unlikely hero during the horrors of the Vietnam War.

What are you trying to say today Maureen?

He shows up...God ALWAYS shows up, when we need Him the most a ray of hope is provided, is given to shine light in to the darkest of days, the darkest of places.

That day I was bending, breaking, stalling, under the weight of abuse...I was existing in a world of static, white noise, and screaming voices, no longer sure of my need to be in this world. The only thing holding my feet to earth, a son who refused to give up, and a God who knew...KNEW exactly where I was and what I needed.

Going throught the motions of making sure dogs, chickens, pigs, turkeys and ducks were being fed. Stopping to pet the great pyrenees female rescue who shied away at all who came near, talking nonsensical nonsense to reassure her, tears running as she came to stand under my hand a moment, two, three before bolting away.

Turning away in the still day, not a shred of wind to cool the skin, I began the walk over to the other beautiful dog only to stop in wonder as hundreds, thousands of colourful leaves began to swirl overhead and fall on my upturned face and hands.

This moment lasted for what seemed hours but was only minutes...I stood in the presence of God, being kissed by gentle leaves falling upon me, and I found strength to continue. I found hope, a small seed of faith to hold tightly to.

I was loved...seen...understood...known.

Not alone, but graced with a presence of the almighty no matter what that day may bring.

Let me tell you lost ones, dear friends...nothing can stop a woman or man who finds their faith, their hope, their deep understanding of more than the present circumstances.

My problems weren't gone, no. However, I understood that no matter what happened, I was protected by something much bigger, badder, more powerful than the evil masquerading as a man.

I was loved...I was given strength and courage where and when none existed within me.

I thought myself depleted, done, the walking dead.

That moment and many, many more like it surrounded me, enfolded me, kept me sane and above ground.

My goal in writing this post today is this...to provide hope, yes. But also to point the way to finding hope, faith and love.

These days of chaos and violence in our neighbours land to the South will create a hero needed to provide hope amid despair, love blanketing out hate and strife.

Is it Canada? Is our Country going to lead the way to hope and peace, or will it be another God given supernatural and magical animal?

Or will we all turn to the one who has previously provided the much needed reminder that not all is lost?

God knows as humans we need the upfront and personal, the tangible being we can look at in wonder...

Perhaps we start with ourselves...being that person for someone who needs the help seeing life, seeing hope.

One day I will speak on all that God has done these past six months as well as everything in the past six years...it would quite literally take up pages and pages of writing.

For the now...know this dear friends, anything is possible with God. Anything. Everything.

If only we believe....