No Hype: A Lesson from a Donkey Ride…

On that fateful day

that marked the beginning of the end

when all expected a King,

the image of the brave and resolute leader come to blunder and conquer

He would not comply

He humbly entered through the gates

to later perform a task none could replicate.

He did not do it for the cheers of the crowd

certainly not to add fame to his name

But simply because that had always been his aim…

S.Grant

“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden'”

Matthew 21:5

Today is Palm Sunday. So I thought today would be a good time to consider our actions. The focus is often times on the triumphant entry that Jesus made into Jerusalem. However, I want to consider the method of his entry. When he entered he was riding a donkey and many may have wondered, why not a horse? Maybe even his disciples. But the donkey was the best choice on his mission.

Why Donkeys Matter…

Donkeys really matter here. There are many identified symbolic importance given to this “beast of burden”. A donkey can represent that idea of standing your ground; teaching all who take the time to consider it, the value of being true to you and your purpose without apology. Historically and in many cultures, donkeys have always been dependable animals that have been valued by Egyptian Pharaohs, Greek gods and Jewish Kings. Not only are they dependable but they also have good intuition! They know when to move and when to be still. It’s impossible to get a donkey to move if it does not want to! However, they always have their reason, they know their limitation and make decisions based on the knowledge that they have of themselves. They are sure about who they are, and no one can convince them other ways, hence the idea of being as stubborn as a mule or donkey.

Lessons From a Donkey…

We too need to learn the art of intuition when we are deciding who to let into our lives and who to let go of. In choosing to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus choose an animal that was dependable and would help him carrying out his mission. They aligned perfectly.

We also need to trust our decisions and our gut feelings. Do not let the opinions of others sway you into a situation or position you had zero intentions of being a part of. Trust that you are doing what is best and what is right for you. You don’t want a situation where you are left stranded because that person bailed on you. At that point it’s all on YOU.

Though a donkey is referred to as a beast of burden, it also has its limits. Do not allow someone to misuse you because you are “kind” or “never complain”. Let others know how far they can go and when they do go beyond that line, check them quickly, so the mistake is never made again.

Dig deeper than what can be seen with the naked eyes when dealing with others. I am sure that if not all, most of us know that many people are not what they appear to be, and sadly the bad may outweigh the good. There are too many persons ready to deceive you about their true intentions. It’s important to move with caution when you recognize this quality in persons you have to associate with. Never think you can influence or change them, you never will. Just having a knowledge of who they really are will save you a lot of wasted time and energy.

For Jesus the donkey was another source of strength in helping him to stick to his mission; that in all the euphoria of the entrance there was more to come, a burden that eventually he alone would carry. So next time you see a donkey, remember your own strength in finding your truth beyond the hype.

The strength of the donkey mind lies in adopting a course inversely as the arguments urged, which, well considered, requires as great a mental force as the direct sequence.
George Eliot