One accord or division?
‘Not again’ I sighed as I scrolled down,
I read on as a furrow lifts my crown
Mighty hot down here wouldn’t ya say-
Rage baitin our pards open book front page?
Like the only form of feeling is by provoking
Lettin it all hang out like we don’t know what hope is
Cowboy and Indians, cops and robbers
Oil avoids water like some kind of solvent…
I don’t think so – the two don’t mix
The only way to unity is a humility quick!
Do we get a little high when someone’s down low
Taking advantage of another put in a choke hold?
Like the only form of feeling is by provoking
Letting all hang out like we don’t know what hope is
Are we eagles turned vultures perched and ready online
Ready to swoop down at just the right time
Our judging eyes and stalking behavior
Spew it now or spew it later
Claws tapping fast on a keyboard screen
Headphones in our ears as injustice screams
Like the only form of feeling is by provoking
Letting all hang out like we don’t know what hope is
Our voices say one thing but our faces another
Please no backstabbing as your undercover
Causing division when we get bored
forgetting the value of being in one accord
We rise by lifting others up so get a grip
No more laying in wait for others to trip
Another kinda feeling thats worth provoking
Is letting it go so that we stop choking
bit of wisdom
The great eagle in vision and wing can search out many things, but his greatest power is his sense to take the enemy out of the camp.
One accord or division?
Are we of one accord?
Recently I have observed things in my industry that, frankly, I thought I would not see. Two sides steeply disagreeing about something that will not matter as it slides a mere 5 minutes into the past. Unfortunately the way it was handled (in a reactionary way, instead of strategically) the incident has gained some pretty major headline attention. This, is one of a number of recent incidents that has not made our sport look professional, unified, or honorable in comparison to other mainstream sports.
The art piece is a concept I had commissioned with an AI art application I have on a computer program. Occasionally, I’ll commission work from a real live artist but in this circumstance I felt time was of the essence and my message was eager to get out quickly.
The two men represent mankind, and our inevitability to fall into disagreement. It symbolizes our sinful nature to isolate, pull apart and incubate in the opposite of solutionary way. We want to see things our way and our way ONLY. But when we refuse to see eye to eye and have a respectful conversation it causes us to turn our backs on each other.
When this happens we are completely blind and unaware of the cord trying to divide us. The snake symbolizes the enemy (the devil) that has now taken centerstage on the platform of our disagreement. He will opportunely position himself to steal, kill and destroy everything we had previously build and worked to hard to achieve. The back drop is a valley. The valley symbolizes two things, a valley of decision and valley of paradise.
Both men in the picture have been through some hard things, but historically have come to live in peace together – think of it as the land of the free and the home of the brave. The eagle over head is faint but carries the most meaning. It symbolizes our spirit, that can rise above and have a greater outlook; one with wisdom, insight and strategy.
There is a reason it is a bald eagle and not a roadkill seeking vulture. If we can rise like the eagle we can gain the perspective that the most powerful thing we can do to reunify each other in the valley of paradise is to REMOVE the enemy, not elevate our personal belief system. My hope is that upon initial viewing of the art piece and seeing the two men hanging their heads in weary disagreement, that our second glance would see that they are praying. Praying for wisdom, praying for clarity, praying for each other. To remain at peace in the valley that has been given to them BOTH to steward.
Sometimes the way we standout is by the way we can tell our ego to ‘stand down’. Humility can handle things behind closed doors with precision and respect. Pride likes to prop up the camera and turn on the mics as chaos ensues in 3…2…1! If attention seeking is what we want, attention seeking is what we get; just be aware people in our industry and outside of it are watching. Personally I would rather be known for our ability to unify in impossible circumstances and be honorable against the odds of today’s culture.
Personal Threat or Steadfast truth
Are we mis-identifying threats, and calling them so just because our feelings get hurt and our entitlement is threatened? The truth is what makes things clear and sets us free from self-righteousness. The truth is something we can agree on and build off of.
Guiding Light or interruption
Not everything that crosses our path deserves our full attention. If we deviate from our goals that are making a long term impact in a positive way, and chase issues that are the equivalent to gnats we will be like moths to a flame of our demise.
Precious resources or endless energy
Many of us complain about being tired or weary-hearted in the industry and culture. However I think utilizing our platform and energy over issues that are barely more than a stubbed toe or a mixed up coffee order will put us in the same category over other ‘squeaky wheels’ in our culture. We need to use our energy and resources for issues that matter: keeping our industry known for being a light in professional sports and influence.
This post was written by Kathleen Rossi, The Cross-trained Cowgirl © 2026. She has been blogging since 2010 with perspectives in the equine industry. She has the equivalent of a Bachelors Degree in Natural Horsemanship, and has published books on the same subject. She has been training horses and coaching people for the last decade and beyond.
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