Running with the Goats

This past weekend I spent a day at a beautiful little farm.  It was quiet - oh, so quiet.  I  went on a wonderful walk out in the woods and was amazed over and over again at God's Spirit speaking to me in it all.  Speaking in a way that I can't form into words - not because I don't have the words to describe but because it seems as though He spoke to me without 'words'.  I know that doesn't make much sense and I don't understand it either.

I went for this day of quiet, a little retreat, to listen, hoping to hear from God.  It was an experience like no other.  Odd and simple.  Quiet and quiet.

Usually on a retreat, I fill up several pages of thoughts and notes ands things that I feel like God is revealing to me.  I did scribble a few things, a couple of lines on one page before my walk.  I even slipped a little tiny pocket-size notebook into my pocket before leaving on my walk.  I lost it somewhere in the woods - amongst the brambles I'm sure!!!

Perhaps I wasn't supposed to take notes.  Maybe it was about more than words.  I still am feeling like the full effect has not settled into me, like most of it is still hovering around me like an 'aura'.

The farm... the people there... - it was so precious, such a blessing.  The walk... the trees... and running with the goats.

I had seen the owner run with the goats once.  She would run and they would follow and it was something silly and fulfilling and meaningful in some weird way.  After my walk, I entered into the barn, not really thinking at all about anything.  I just wanted to interact with something living and moving, so I walked in the barn - or better 'skinnied' in the door so that no creature would escape.  I talked to them for a few minutes and they seemed to be all questions, "Who are you, and what are you doing in here?"  "Are you a friend or foe?"  "Do I like you or not?"

Maybe it was that last question, maybe I wanted to show them that I was likable and fun... so I walked out into the pasture talking excitedly, encouraging them to follow; enticing them that I was about to lead them into something that would make their day brighter.

"Come on, here we go, let's RUN."  And sure enough they followed me.  We ran the 'loop' several times - a few of those goats cheating in excess by the end.  A couple loyal followers though raced it all with me.  And as we came back down to the barn each time, one crazy goat would rise up on hind legs like he was a black stallion.  I couldn't help it, but had to let out a whoop every time he did that.

Yep, running with the goats was a simple, weird, fulfilling, crazy, pleasurable thing I did.  I bet I'll do it again if I get the chance sometime, so if you see a loony lady running around with goats, it may be me (or the owner of that farm, she's probably a little loony too).