By: Deb Kitchenmaster
Once upon a time, back in the year 1747, a little boy was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, to Isaac Morgan and his first wife, Thankfull. He was the eighth of eleven children, mostly boys and blessed with the name Justin Morgan. He remained in Springfield until 1788 when he moved to Randolph, Vermont, to accept a position as a singing master and one who also would teach penmanship at singing schools. Morgan’s style of music was psalmody (fuguing tunes). This music is considered to be America’s first distinctive style of music and has been called “America’s first original art music.”
Forty-two years from this lad’s birth (1789), a bay colt was foaled in Springfield with no name.
It was the summer of 1791, Justin and one of his students walked from Rudolph back to Springfield (over 150 miles) to collect a debt owed to him. Justin and the boy ended up returning to Vermont with a mare and her 2-year-old bay colt for the debt payment. That colt he called “Figure” would become a legend for his ability to outwork, outrun, out-trot, and out-walk any horse in the area. Justin Morgan’s horse, now known by his master’s name, was one of the greatest breeding stallions of all. The Morgan horse is considered the FIRST AMERICAN breed. Justin was number EIGHT born into his family and decades later he chose to name his horse Figure… Go figure.
Remember Figure? Do you remember eight? People! You just can’t make this stuff up. It’s an ordinary day in North Alabama on the grounds. Five (number in the Bible representing GRACE) Morgan horses are peacefully grazing in the east pasture in the SE corner. A community service arrives to complete some testing. I did not realize this person was dropped off. After about 45 minutes a car slowly pulled into our driveway. All five horses lifted up their heads and began to move single-file at a gentle trot up to the NW area of the pasture where the car was heading in the yard. At this time there were three of us standing outside watching these horses cross the pasture in a single-file movement! The driver had come to pick up the community service provider. Right before our very own eyes we watched these five (Grace) horses complete a perfect figure-eight pattern, remaining in their single-file positions. I am asked, “What are they doing?” I respond, “I don’t have a clue.” All I knew was it was breathtaking. The statement that followed opened up a can of communication. “Someone in that car must need this!” There were two young people out in that car that had experienced trauma as toddlers, were rescued, and later adopted into a loving family. These horses’ instinct knew this as the car entered our property! Do you identify the pattern? Figure eight! Go figure.
Years later, a door of opportunity would open to me regarding Animal B.E.S.T. training (Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique). I was seeking God about this matter. It would require tests (written and protocol) along with ten case studies on animals (horses, dogs and cats). In my decision to go for a drive, I found myself alongside a pasture with donkey. One donkey lifted its head and began to bray loudly. Yep, the Almighty spoke through a donkey one more time, and I completed the assignment. I came to learn about the cross-crawl configuration — the figure-eight pattern. In the protocol, the figure-eight pattern is used three times. Why? To RESET! The number 8 means new beginnings, a new things, reset and renaissance. Renaissance is a French word meaning “rebirth.”
President Trump has designated the 17th day (1+7=8) in May (5th month, number five represents grace) as the National Jubilee of Prayer. Let us return to our roots of righteousness, revival, and reformation! The days of cancel culture are over. Let us choose to rise up and shine brighter than the darkness. May we be courageous, bold, finding Truth in the sea of opinions!
Your NEIGHbor,
Deb Kitchenmaster
