WE REMEMBER

TO QUOTE H.H. ISENBART FROM HIS WONDERFUL BOOK, THE KINGDOM OF THE HORSE': "LIKE LIFE ITSELF, A STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE THAT IS THE RACE. IMPLICIT IN THE BREATHLESS HEADLONG RUSH LIES FEAR. AS IF IN FLIGHT FROM DEATH THE HORSES SCURRY; ABOVE THEM CROUCHED BEHIND THE MANE, THEIR RIDERS. ONLY THE FITTEST OF THEM ALL SURVIVE. ONLY THE BEST AND SPEEDIEST ATTAIN THE PRIZE. THE RACE-COURSE CLAIMS, AS NATURE DOES, ITS VICTIMS. AS IN LIFE, THERE ARE THOSE IN THE RACE WHO NEVER REACH THE FINISH."

ON THIS HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY, APRIL 15TH, WE REMEMBER. WE REMEMBER THE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES OF REAL LIFE EQUESTRIAN FALLS. AT AACHEN A BEAUTIFUL WHITE MARE, BARONESS. IN 1966, BARBEROUSSE. IN 2007, BARBERO HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. FROU FROU'S DEATH IN FICTION'S ANNA KARENINA BY LEO TOLSTOY AFFECTED A CHARACTER VRONSKY AS "THE MOST GRIEVOUS AND AGONIZING MEMORY OF HIS LIFE."

TO QUOTE MR. ISENBART AGAIN: "THOSE WHO HAVE LOOKED INTO THE EYES OF AN INCURABLY INJURED HORSE WILL NOT HAVE FOUND STARK, DESPERATE AGONY THERE, BUT A STRANGE CALM, IN WHICH MAN SEES THE KNOWING RESIGNATION TO AN APPROACHING FATE. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT KNOWLEDGE, BUT THE MERCIFUL INSTINCT OF NATURE WHICH EXTINGUISHES THE IMPULSE OF THE WILL TO LIVE AT THE VERY MOMENT IN WHICH THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE IS LOST."

WORDS TO PONDER. MAN'S NOBLE SERVANT, THE HORSE LIVES OUT LIFE AND DIES, IN HIS FAITHFULNESS TO A NATURAL INSTINCT. WE, HUMANS, FORMED IN THE LOGOS OF GOD, HAVE THE HIGHER POWER OF CONSCIOUS CHOICE. LET US NOT FORGET THE DEATHS OF VICTIMS STRUCK DOWN IN THE RACE FOR LIFE IN NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA ON 9/11/01. LET US NOT FORGET THE MILLIONS OF VICTIMS OF HITLER'S HOLOCAUST AND THE MILLIONS OF OTHER VICTIMS OF GENOCIDES OVER TIME AROUND THE WORLD.

PROVIDENCE DID NOT FORGET TO GIVE US THE KINGDOM OF THE HORSE. PRAY TODAY FOR GOD'S MERCY AND REMEMBER THE MANY WHO HAVE ENTERED HIS KINGDOM BEFORE FINISHING THE RACE.