Running with the Horses

Jeremiah 12 verse 5: “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?"

Life’s Foot Races

We’ve all been there, feeling overwhelmed by the seemingly endless parade of problems marching into our lives. The electricity bill is due, the car needs repairs, and a medical issue crops up out of nowhere. It’s so easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day battles and lose sight of the bigger picture.

I was reminded of this recently as I heard a friend of mine stressing about her daughter’s primary school fees. To her, it seemed like an insurmountable expense at the time, and she briefly panicked about making ends meet. But then I stepped back and put things in perspective for her.

This tuition was merely a “foot race” in the grand scheme of things, I explained to her. Down the road lies high school, college, and career training, expenses that will make primary school fees look minuscule in comparison. Getting anxious over a foot race would sap her energy and distract her from planning for the larger challenges on the horizon.

I read the scripture in Jeremiah 12 verse 5 to my friend and explained that the analogy of horses and foot race has always stuck with me. Life threw curveballs at me left and right, and it felt impossible to keep up. Everything seemed too daunting: my failing health, relationship struggles, and money worries. I kept stumbling, thinking something was wrong with me for not being able to handle it all. But the little problems are like foot soldiers sent ahead to test our mettle and resilience. If we let them overwhelm us, how will we have the strength and resources to face the “horses”, that is the really big financial hurdles of life?

OK, here is a question. I don’t know how many of you relate to it, but I know I do. Have you ever found yourself striving so hard to beat your neighbour or coworker at something, only to reach a point where you’re both just running in place? You give it your all at the company 5K every week, but you can never crack the top three. Or maybe you poured your heart into your side hustle on Etsy, growing a steady customer base, until sales started levelling off, and it was tough to take things to the next level. We’ve all been there, pushing ourselves but not necessarily moving forward.

That’s where the idea of “foot races vs horse races” comes in. Just like a serious runner will graduate from sprints to longer distances, or a pro athlete might switch sports entirely, sometimes in life we outgrow our current circumstances and need to aim higher to keep improving. It’s about recognising when you’re just jockeying for position with your peers and need a new challenge to take your game to the next level.

A perfect example is Usain Bolt. That guy dominated the 100-metre dash for years, but eventually his blazing speed wouldn’t cut it against younger competitors any more. So what did he do? He started training for longer distances, which seemed impossible at first. Now the dude is running marathons! Talk about thinking outside the box. Or what about entrepreneurs who blew up their Etsy store, but then took the chance to expand nationwide? All of a sudden, they’re running with the big dogs in their industry.

Running with the Horses

I remember back when I first started in this industry (during my apprenticeship) feeling like I was constantly running around trying to keep up. As a young apprentice, my mentor worked hard; we had to look after 30 trucks, and it seemed never-ending at the time. I used to dread the long days of constant work; it seemed like I was overworked, and I just could not catch a break.

But my mentor knew something I didn’t, he was preparing me for bigger responsibilities down the road. Now I oversee a fleet of over 1000 trucks! Some days it still feels like a lot to juggle, but I never forget how far I’ve come.

When I was first starting out, I doubted I’d ever reach this level without a college degree. But through experience, hard work, resilience, and mentors who pushed me, I’ve rubbed shoulders with business leaders who have doctorates to their names. I am running with the horses!

As kids, my siblings and I helped our parents on their small plot of land, learning through trial and error how to tend just a few acres. Subsistence farming, they termed it. Those were the foot soldiers. I never could have imagined then that I’d one day manage and own operations on 50 hactares of land. But that hands-on background gave me a strong work ethic and problem-solving skills that have served me well. Now I am running with the horses, with no formal or educational background in farming or agriculture, but I am still making it happen.

Don’t get me wrong, the journey wasn’t always easy. There were long days when I felt like giving up. But looking back, I see it all as necessary preparation. All those “foot soldiers”, the small hurdles along the way, prepared me to take on bigger roles.

For anyone just starting out, don’t lose heart during the tougher early stages. Stay determined and learn from your mentors and from the struggles, and one day you may surprise yourself with how far you’ve come from those beginnings. Keep working hard and be willing to grow, and opportunities will come.

Looking past the foot races

When bills seem unaffordable or issues seem too great to overcome, I take a step back. Rather than stressing in the moment, I think about my long-term goals. With patience and diligence, working through one foot soldier after another gets me closer to being prepared for those far bigger challenges down the road. It keeps me motivated to keep pushing ahead, even on days when it’s an uphill battle.

So whether it’s a new hobby, career shift, or ambitious business venture, sometimes the only way forward is to widen your horizons. You’ve got to be willing to experiment, take risks, and colour outside the lines It’s uncomfortable at first to leave your comfort zone, but that’s the only place real progress happens. So if you feel like you’re coasting, consider breaking out of those foot races and start training for the bigger challenges ahead. I have a feeling, with determination and grit, you could run with the horses too.

When huge challenges come your way, try approaching them like Jeremiah suggests—not with fear, but with faith in your ability to rise up and overcome through preparation and perseverance. It’s okay to feel intimidated by life’s “horses” at times. But remember that you have the power within to get your feet moving and start training to face them head on. One step at a time, you’ll gain the armour, muscles, and confidence to run side by side to even the greatest obstacles. You’ve got this, friends!

When I feel tired or discouraged from the day-to-day grind, I draw inspiration from an unlikely source: the wild brumby horses of Australia. Their ability to adapt and thrive under difficult conditions is really remarkable.

Australia’s outback landscape is about as rugged as it gets,with sparse vegetation, limited water sources, scorching heat. Yet the brumbies have turned this forbidding terrain into their playground. They wander vast ranges with seemingly boundless stamina, nurturing their young along the way.

It amazes me that horses not constrained to barns or pastures can find freedom in such a barren wilderness. But they’ve learned to be tremendously resilient, how to scan the horizon for opportunities rather than focus on challenges. When resources are scarce, teamwork and inventiveness become critical for survival.

The brumbies prove you don’t need comfortable surroundings or easy access to resources in order to flourish. Growth happens when you explore beyond obvious paths, when you think outside fixed boundaries. Wandering off the beaten track is how new discoveries are made.

On challenging days, I try channelling the brumbies’ nomadic spirit. Rather than seeing obstacles, I look for chances to adapt and to think creatively about solving problems in my own uniquely resourceful way. With resilience and the flexibility to change course when needed, opportunities emerge even in unlikely places.

So whether it’s facing professional setbacks or personal hardships, I find fortitude in remembering these wild Australian horses. Like them, I know that with wanderlust and an undaunted drive to keep exploring, I too can run free alongside them.

Do you think any of the strategies, mentioned here, will help you shift your perspective during tough times? What strategies do you use to look past life’s “foot soldiers” and stay focused on the bigger picture? Share your thoughts below.

Happy Reading!

Reg

Fun and interesting fact, there are Man versus Horse races — in Scotland,  Wales,  New Zealand and Arizona.  And get this,  Man has actually won some races!