This time of year can be a very trying time for folks in the horse business.  There are a number of big shows starting with the Quarter Horse Congress, then the World Championship Quarter Horse Show, the Reining futurity, the National Finals Rodeo, the World Championship Barrel Racing Futurity and the National Cutting Horse Futurity.  Many people have trained all year with the goal to do well in these shows.  Big entry fees are paid throughout the year toward these shows and in many cases big late penalties are paid toward the end to enter a horse that had not been previously entered.  Two of these shows are shows that you are required to qualify for.  To go to the NFR, you must be in the top 15 in the world and to qualify for the AQHA World Championship Quarter Horse Show, you had to earn the specified number of points required for the event.  Their is a major investment in qualifying for these shows.    

I have been directly involved in 5 of the above shows as a competitor and/or helping produce the show.  I was in Louisville, Kentucky when the first World Show started and have been to every one since.  I've been around these shows for over 25 years and have seen a lot of things happen when people compete for reputations, large purses and the honor of being named a World Champion.  I've seen World Championships lost by a broken rope, broken barrier, knocked down barrel, hat falling off before rider reached the arena and missed patterns.  I've seen indescribable joy and utter devastation.  I've seen people who depended upon what they won at the end of the year to make payments on all that they had coming due.  I've seen people that hauled on credit cards and had to win to pay them off.  I've seen people who literally depended upon what they could win to have the money for fuel to drive back home.  I've had people tell me that there will be no Christmas at their house because they did not win what they had hoped.  I've seen people launched into a training career because of wins and others launched into depression because of losses. 

My grandmother used to tell me, "don't put all your eggs in one basket."  You cannot be devastated unless you put all your hopes for financial security, personal esteem, and career esteem in winning.  To put your eggs in that basket is to believe that winning is your source.  The Bible gives us clear instructions related to this subject.  It tells us that many enter the race, but only one will win the prize.  ! Corinthians 9:24  We are to run to win, but winning is what we have strived to do, not who we are.  Another instruction is for us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.  Matthew 10:16  To go in debt planning to win your way out of it is not too wise.  There is a fine line between faith and foolishness. 

How you handle the pressure of the big shows and how you handle the results can be a powerful witness to people who are without Christ - especially if you do not win what you expected and hoped to win.  Christians should be the same yesterday, today, and forever because we have Jesus Christ living inside of us.  We of all people should know that He is our source and if we don't win, he will meet our needs in another way because our faith is in Him.  Our trust is in Him.  Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.  Psalm 20:7   He not only has our everyday life in His hands, but a future planned for us.  That is the real reality of being a Christian.  Jesus Christ not only shed blood to redeem us, gave us the Holy Spirit and His Word to guide us, but He also gave us the promise of things to come that are indescribable.  Horses are our vehicle to be used to reach others - nothing more.  Keep your eyes on the things that are eternal and not the things that are fickle and will fade away with the passing of time. 2 Corinthians 4:18  Keep them on Jesus Christ. 

 Now, there's a basket you can put all your eggs in!