Epiphanies come at funny times and in funny places. I believe that messages that you need to hear and understand come in many forms across time until they are integrated into us and the lesson is learned. Knowing this I still never expected to be hit with an epiphany while watching the large draft horse wagon pull at the IPE.

For those not familiar with the IPE it is a large agricultural fair that is held annually over the September long weekend in a small village close to us. The Toad and I love going and this year got to take in the sights and sounds with our international student which made the day even more fun. Toad and I enjoy watching the horse competitions – particularly the wagon pull with the large draft horses like the powerful and graceful Clydesdales. A team of two horses pull a wagon and the driver must manoeuvre through a course of small gates. The course is timed but points are lost if any of the gates are knocked over.

We were watching a young woman put her team through the paces and as she came through a particularly tough gate she glanced behind her to see if she had cleared the obstacle. Over the loud speaker came the words “You can’t change what is behind you!” as the announcer encouraged her into the next set of gates. As I watched this woman guide 4,000+ lbs through a narrow space it was clear that once she set her trajectory using all of her skill, knowledge, and training there was no point in looking behind as the wheels came through the pylons – she could do nothing to change the outcome and she needed to look forward to the next challenge.

Those words coming from a booming loud speaker matched with the visual in front of me could not be ignored. It was a message for me and it was unmistakeable. Of course I still believe there is a time and place to look back to gain perspective and harvest lessons learned but I now see clearly there is also a time to face forward and trust that the choices you have made and the course you are travelling is what you are meant to do.

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