Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29

Over twenty years ago, our first two Haflinger horses were a brother and sister team we sent for training together to learn to pull farm implements like a plow and manure spreader.  They were learning, in essence,  to be “yoked” together in their efforts to do their job.  Hans, the older brother, had previously been trained in harness, so understood what was expected and was always ready to go, usually taking on more than his share of the load.  Greta was new to this work, younger and more slightly built, so needed to be taught how to lean into the collar, how to take her fair share of the pull, and how to work in tandem with her team partner.

As it turned out, Hans became the primary work horse wanting to push on to the end of the row and Greta learned that she could be a slacker, hang back and let her brother do the brunt of the pulling.   Hans would be exhausted (and if a horse can be resentful, he probably was) and Greta was happily watching the scenery go by.  It was an uneven relationship that never quite gelled.

We can’t be slackers in faith, letting others do our job.  We are to take on the work of this world by throwing ourselves into the harness without holding back.  Our teacher walks alongside as we learn, handing us what we can manage of the load to share,  reassuring and encouraging every step of the way, being an example in gentleness and humility.   There is no contest to win here, no pride in accomplishment or trophy upon crossing the finish line.

The reward is the relationship itself and,  eventually,  the promise of rest when the work is done.