It's a Permission Thing

Perhaps Ezra the chiropractor learned about permission from working with horses, and particularly foals.

Several years ago, I went to a new chiropractor. I’ve had neck and shoulder problems for years — ever since I got whiplash from a horse that I was lungeing (but that’s another story). I’m what in chiropractor talk they call “guarded” about my neck. That is, just at the moment where the doc tries to turn it, I stiffen up.

Well this doc reached under my head and asked me to allow my head to rest in his hands. He gently cradled my head and moved it left and right, and when he sensed that my neck had let down it’s guard, so to speak, he gave it a tiny adjustment. Almost immediately, I felt an increased range of movement. I was impressed, and I asked him about it.

He said, “It’s a permission thing. I feel for when your neck tells me that it’s ready, then I can make an adjustment. If I try to force it, I’m not doing your neck any good.”

I’ve often thought of that day and how “it’s a permission thing” applies to so many situations. I seem to need a moment in the dentist’s chair, too — just a second to be able to say, okay to proceed.

I know it’s not just me that feels guarded. When you’re trying to make a point in a conversation, you know when someone is receptive and when their body language says “Don’t go there.” And horses can give us the same kind of feedback.

If we girth up the horse before he’s relaxed, he’ll learn to become guarded about being saddled. Or if we override his apprehensions when we’re bridling him, his head will get higher and higher and he’ll become harder to bridle. We don’t want a fight, and we don’t want to force our horse to work with us. We want a willing partner.

I think this applies in the spiritual world, too. God wants to share His love with willing partners. Jesus doesn’t force anyone to “convert.” Instead, He invites them into a relationship. It’s a permission thing.