ONE

By:  Deb Kitchenmaster

Have you heard or said, “Back to square one”? What about these statements? “All for one, and one for all.” Our Army declares, “An Army of one.” Or “As one door closes, another one opens.”

The word ‘one’ originated pre-1150 and was inherited from Germanic (the Indo-European language family). The number one symbolized unity and the origin of all things since all other numbers can be created from one adding enough copies of it. In its primitive form (without the bar at the bottom), the numeral 1 is a vertical line; it features only one angle, where the diagonal line meets the vertical line.

Now that we have tasted an ounce of history, what about the meaning of ‘one’? Being or aMOUNTing to a single unit or individual, or entire thing, item, or object, rather than two or more. One refers to a single person or thing, as well as the number one. One is all alone, but it at least gets to be the first in line!

Riders/handlers tend to look at their horses as a mirror of themselves and are inclined to view themselves and their horses as one. The United States held a conference that brought in Germanic speakers who were researching in the field of equitation sciences — the relationship styles among riders and how they perceive their horses. Research showed many saw their horses as ‘self-objects.’ As we reflect on the meaning of one, we remember one to be a single unit, individual, or entire thing, item, or OBJECT. A quote from the research: “People, objects, and experiences may all be considered self-objects and provide feedback that either fuels or undermines a person’s self.” Findings showed in their studies that the longer a person owned their horse, the more they were likely to consider themselves and their horses as ONE.

Engaging in community, we created a safe place for young people from all backgrounds, with their own stories, to come out to horse camp. We worked with social services, home health care, school counselors, pastors, and foster care within and outside our county. We would start out with me communicating with the horse as the rider would work on their breath, relaxing, and balancing while developing their seat. The time would come within their relationship with me and their relationship with their horse to begin to communicate and go deeper in connecting with their horse and their true self. Please understand, we were not performing or preparing to perform for an event. We were not in training for the Olympics. Our focus was on ONE, unlike anyone else, human being. Needless to say, fears would need to be dealt with, condemnation at various levels would need to be faced, and lies that one believed in their belief system would be overtaken by inserting truth into their belief system. In what way did any of these and other hindrances reveal their workings in ONE’S life? By taking things personally! Out of the abundance of the heart (soul) the mouth speaks, “I’m not good enough.” “I’m so stupid.” “My horse doesn’t like me.” The person believes something is wrong with them. That right there is exposing shame in the belief system.

We all need to take steps, one by one, to walk out of shame and blame into ‘teaching’ moments, teaching experiences. Rather than asking, “What’s wrong with me?” ask “What is here for me to learn, see, face, or change etc.?” Simply by setting your rudder to not take things personally, you have aligned yourself in a jet stream of rest, peace, and joy regardless of circumstances or situations. Say again and again, “I will not take this personally” — even if it feels personal. When shame, fears, and condemnation

are weakened in one’s life, grace, love, and confidence becomes stronger. Remember, self-objects provide feedback that either fuels OR undermines a person’s self (life, soul)…see Psalms 23.

ONE NATION UNDER ONE TRUE, LIVING GOD,

Your “Neigh” bor – Deb Kitchenmaster