As I walked to the barn, I thought through the events of the last several weeks and absent-mindedly fingered the peppermints that are always in my pocket. We went from nearly 80 degrees to icy cold, and then last weekend to nearly 80 again. I know for people who live in places like Wyoming where they brag about the weather changing every 15 minutes, this may not be impressive, but it represented big swings for us in western North Carolina. Our daffodils pushed on, despite temperature changes.

There were big swings in activities and attitudes, too. It seems that nearly everyone I talk with is stressed — about health or finances — and worried about the future.

Last weekend I attended the spring meeting of Equestrian Ministries International (http://equestrianministries.org). We had a great time as people from around the eastern states gathered to share a love of God and love of horses. The weather was perfect.

We heard some amazing stories, including from Debi Metcalf, founder of Stolen Horse International (http://netposse.com). She told how she and her husband found themselves alone when they discovered their horse, Idaho, had been stolen. Over the course of the next year, they learned of other people who were also looking for stolen horses. And they received an amazing outpouring of love and support from people they had never met who wanted to help. Idaho was found, at the time when things looked the most hopeless. I’m reminded of the cliche that night looks darkest just before dawn. After bringing Idaho home, Debi founded a non-profit to help educate owners about horse theft and to help owners track down stolen horses.

Larry Martin of EMI took us through stories of three Biblical characters, showing how Moses, Elijah, and Isaiah each had a major breakthrough, just at the time when things looked the most bleak. They didn’t have the provisions they needed for the future. But they did have the Provider. (I hope to have that audio on the EMI website next week.)

Removing a peppermint from my pocket, I thought about how some of my ideas have changed over the years. I used to be resistant to the idea of feeding treats to my horse regularly. I saw how people often substituted treats for training, and I saw horses who had a hard time remembering their manners once they knew a treat was at hand. So I opted not to treat.

But I have come to recognize that a little peppermint here and there is a good thing. It helps to bridge a gap, easing some transitions. Instead of getting upset when he has to leave his buddies in the field, my horse Calvin hears the rustle of a peppermint wrapper and is reminded that I’m a buddy, too, and that when we are out of the field, there’s a good chance his provider will produce a peppermint.

As I watch Calvin munching his treat, I’m reminded that I need to be more like him, less affected by the highs and lows and stresses related to things I can’t control. Maybe the peppermints aren’t just for my horse.