Horsewhip

Recently I was riveted to a pioneer story detailing the adventures of Mary Ellen Todd, first cousin once removed of Mary Todd Lincoln.   Mary Ellen was nine when she traveled the Oregon Trail from Independence, MO to Oregon.  The oldest child, she was often at her father’s side as he handled the family’s animals and she learned all the tack that accompanied them.

His horsewhip held a fascination for her. Her father could crack it so convincingly.  Horses would stir into gear at its command. Oxen could be redirected with a single snap. At one point her father even used the whip against a conniving person.  

Once her father used the whip against a conniving person, and it saved their wagon train.

She didn’t think her father capable of such violence because he had never used it on their animals’ skin, only in the air, and only when necessary. In this specific case, the use of the whip saved not only their family but the entire wagon train. This only increased her awe of the horsewhip’s power.

In April, at the start of the long, arduous journey she could not hold the heavy leather whip in one hand, so heavy was it.  During the journey she would occasionally try again. About half way through she managed some lame swishing of the whip, but she could not snap it like her dad.  

The journey was not without its hurdles. First disagreements broke their wagon train into two. Then Indians struck; then illness.  A long journey became even longer, and her desire to snap the horsewhip was forgotten in the tiring, duty-filled days.

In October they arrived at their destination. Initially, Mary Ellen and her family expended much energy to winterize a woe-begotten cabin, make furniture and set up the household. But then the days waxed long because there was no school to attend.  The family could not even go to meeting.  The community was so new it had no church.

In the tedium of these days, Mary Ellen discovered to her surprise that she could handle the horsewhip.  She even got a hardy snap out of it. Time and the trail had strengthened her. Her father took some pride in her accomplishment.  One night he mentioned at dinner, “Mary Ellen can snap the whip now.”

Mother’s eyes widened in surprise, “But that’s not very lady-like!” she exclaimed.  

“I suppose not, I suppose not,” Father condescended in a voice that grew softer.  None the less he had a twinkle in his eye.  

Mary Ellen noted the pride and love that passed between father and daughter.  She knew Mother’s admonishment meant her whip-snapping days were numbered.  But she still reveled in the knowledge that now SHE could make things happen.  Now SHE was a mover and shaker.

I think we all wish to have the power to enact change.  If only all change was initiated as quickly as a whip is snapped. 

I think we all wish to have the power to enact change.  If only all change was initiated as quickly as a whip is snapped.  A whip means power, means a lord hovering over a lesser. It means being controlled. 

Forcing someone to change usually doesn’t mean lasting change, and it certainly does not increase feelings of fondness between two individuals. But without discomfort, change often doesn’t happen.  Extrinsic motivation has its merits, after all.  

In God’s backward kingdom, change is brought about in the most unlikely ways.

But in God’s backward kingdom, change is brought about in the most unlikely ways.  Jesus was a Lord who refused earthly crowns.  He turned away from the power of position.  He advocated laying down one’s life for others, not lording over another.  Many thought the movement he started was ill-gotten, doomed to failure.  After all, following the crucifixion his followers would not even have filled an average-sized American church!

How much true change could be brought about by such a Man?

Horsewhip or humility…I leave it to you to dwell on the motivating power of these two alternatives.