. . . for what I gained. I was never the A+ student except in certain English and Literature classes. I was the A's and B's kind of girl who didn't have to work too hard to pull those grades. I got my first C in high school, but I can't remember in what class. It might've been typing. I think I graduated with a grade average between a 3.2 and a 3.5 and got accepted at the only two universities to which I applied. I entered the University of Washington - reluctantly - because my parents thought it would be good for my future. They never had the opportunity to graduate from high school. I was not a fan of school.
Of course I took mostly English and Literature classes and got As and Bs. College presented escalated studies, and although I loved one of my Literature professors, I enjoyed the extra-curricular activities with my friends over the familiar school routine. I've told the long story here about the inspiration for quitting school and setting myself up for a trip to Europe based on the film Blow Up so I won't repeat that tale. I worked for a year to earn the money as did a friend of mine, and then we set out for Great Britain and Europe. A three month venture from September to three days before Christmas, it sated my yearning for travel but left me unsettled as to what would become of me.
Most of you know my love of horses has always been a constant so in the spring I made it to the now defunct Longacres Racetrack and began what would turn into over 30 years of involvement in the horse racing industry.
What I gave up in going to the racetrack I don't regret. I gained a career where my love for horses could be practiced and my skills in knowing the amazing Thoroughbred breed could be developed and honed. I loved it for a long, long time. And I will always champion the heart, beauty, and versatility of the Thoroughbred. I exchanged my learning for the things of school for the things of racing, the ins and outs of particular horses - no different than the personalities and quirks of humans - and I filed my precision language skills adopting a racetrack slang. Two of the most difficult "skills" for me were saying "ain't" and teaching myself to cuss and swear. Honestly, neither came naturally for me.
It seems to me we must always sacrifice something for something else. Sometimes it's for the better as in accepting salvation. Other times we give up good for bad. Findng my place at the track ultimately resulted in my discovering Jesus. Ironically it was on the way to taking care of one of our horses who was sick. What I gave up to go the track was superficial, a different lifestyle, and a particular kind of education. What I gained can't compare. I learned where I needed to be, what it felt like to find my "career", and once I'd emptied out all my fabricated hopes and dreams and lost the taste for rebellion, I found Jesus waiting for me.
Thank you, Lord, for covering my innumerable sins, then and now. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.