When Dad pulled up in his old Dodge panel truck, I expected souvenirs. What I didn’t expect was a miniature horse with a Hollywood past.
My brother and I ran to meet him, eager to see what he had brought us from Arizona. Dad had an outdoor advertising business that supplemented the small salary the church paid him as church planter and pastor. He had been on a sign painting and repair trip for five days. A trip like this always meant something special for his two boys!
As Dad climbed out of his van, he had a special twinkle in his eyes. “Wait till you see what I’ve got for you,” he said as he walked to the back and opened the van’s doors. Much to our amazement and shock, there stood a thirty-eight-inch-high, full-grown miniature horse!
Prince was born and raised at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. His most recent home was an Arizona trading post in the Navajo Indian reservation. The owners decided to sell their miniature horse due to the high cost of feeding him. Dad showed up at the right time.
Prince was an unusual horse. While exceptionally small, he had a history. The little black and white fellow had been professionally trained to do tricks. He had been in at least two Hollywood western movies. Prince acted as though he was something special. His neigh from inside the van seemed to proclaim proudly, “Your star has arrived!”
The little rascal was untied and bounced out of the van like a spirited toy poodle. Surrounded by Colorado sunshine and fresh green grass, Prince was in horse heaven!
Soon after Prince arrived, I learned that pony races would be included in the upcoming horse show. The winner would take home a shiny pair of genuine leather cowboy boots. I decided I would enter that race and win the prize.
As Prince and I prepared together, I found that his thirty-eight-inch height did not limit his drive and speed. How he loved to run!
Finally, the day of the big race arrived at the county fairgrounds. Because the facility was seldom used, much of the property was in disrepair. The one profitable venture on the property was the huge alfalfa field inside the big oval race track. The proceeds from selling hay to ranchers kept the facility from total financial collapse.
After some other events, the loudspeaker announced, “It is time for the big event of the day! Would the ponies and their owners prepare for the next race!” Prince and I took off for the starting gate. I was confident I would win this race. After all, I was racing against Shetland Ponies and I was riding a pedigree miniature horse! As I arrived at the starting gate, I looked up and realized for the first time that there were over 2,000 people in the stands, watching. Then I realized that two other ponies were running the race.
We lined up. Only minutes separated me from that shiny new pair of genuine leather boots. The starter gun fired, and the spectators leaped to their feet and cheered as the steeds bolted from the gate . . .
The Distraction That Changed Everything
Remember that big alfalfa field? Little clumps of alfalfa also grew along the edges of the race track—and that alfalfa immediately caught Prince’s eye. No longer was he interested in racing—he was interested in eating! Like a boy with a cookie jar, he was letting his greed get the best of him.
Prince was oblivious to the other circumstances around him—including me on his back, tugging at his reins, kicking his sides, and swatting his rump. I had lost control; Prince was giving in to the lure of alfalfa—and in front of 2,000 spectators!
Prince lost focus on the goal. He ran from clump to clump down the track as the laughing crowd cheered us on. What seemed to me like an eternity later, Prince crossed the finish line, content with the green alfalfa salad he had just enjoyed to my disgrace. The two of us took third place that day.
A Race Worth Winning—Or So I Thought
What went wrong that day? Simply this: circumstances did not permit me to fulfill my plan. I was full of good intentions; I had practiced with Prince for days; I knew he could win, and I wanted those cowboy boots. But I soon discovered that good intentions and sincerity—or even ability—do not guarantee our expected results. Prince was distracted, and I had lost control.
Nevertheless, I believe there is a reason things don’t always turn out as we plan: our plans are often not God’s plans for us. But when we understand more about His plan and realize that He always has our best interests at heart, we can respond better to unexpected circumstances.
Needs, Wants, and Desires—What’s Driving You?
Prince lost focus because he was drawn to what seemed more appealing in the moment. He had the ability to win the race, but his appetite overruled his purpose. In the same way, we often set out with clear goals, only to be sidetracked by distractions that seem urgent or satisfying at the time.
To understand why this happens, let’s break down three key words—needs, wants, and desires. Though we often use them interchangeably, each plays a different role in shaping our decisions. Recognizing the difference can help us stay on track and pursue what truly matters.
Needs!
A need is a lack of something required by life. A need is an essential item that must be obtained in order to survive. Food, clothing, and shelter fall within this definition. And needs may differ, depending on one’s circumstances.
Wants!
A want is a craving for something that often makes us focus our total attention on that object. A want has become extreme when obsession and impulsiveness have taken control over wisdom, understanding, and waiting for God’s timing.
Desires!
Now we come to the word desire. A desire is a deeply rooted longing in the heart for something. Typically, a desire is something that you cannot easily free your mind from thinking about.
Needs and Wants!
If your friend announces, “I want a pizza for lunch,” you understand that pizza is a preference for a type of food. Nourishment is the need; pizza is a want. Lunch could just as well be a glass of milk and a whole wheat sandwich.
God has promised to supply our needs. He has not promised to supply all our wants. As a loving Father, however, He often makes provision for our wants, too.
I’ve thought about the subtle difference between these two words, and I’ve concluded that a need is based on God’s promised provision, while a want is based more on one’s own self-centeredness.
I believe that God plants desires in His children’s hearts. Many times He may give you a specific desire—with the expectation that you will take the actions necessary to see that desire become a reality.
Sometimes a desire can be something of significant spiritual value. God may have planted the desire for a loved one to find Jesus Christ as his Savior. This desire of your heart may cause you to pray, to share the desire with others, to share your testimony with the person, or to invite the person to church or other settings to hear the Gospel. Although you may stimulate others to pray, you carry the primary desire (or burden) for the person’s salvation.
Not all desires need to be of a highly spiritual nature. Even so, the desires that God plants always will bring glory and praise to Him when fulfilled.
In my Pennies from Heaven blog I recalled the story of the Heart of America Bell. This true story would have never become a national reality if it were not for Helma Weber. She was available for a God-planted desire when she heard of the need for a bell in the little church’s steeple. I believe God chose Mrs. Weber to be the one who would carry that desire in her heart until it became a reality. Because she responded to the desire, many thousands of people across America became involved.
God’s message of love and forgiveness ultimately went forth across the nation via radio, newspapers, and magazines. God knew Mrs. Weber was capable of giving Him the glory. She was simply an instrument that He chose to use to bring attention to His Kingdom business!
Many thousands heard that God loves them, and they could know him through this national campaign for a church bell. The Heart of America Bell still hangs in a giant cross outside of Living Hope Church in Grand Junction, Colorado today. It is still a testimony of a desire that grew to maturity and ultimate reality.
Are You Wandering from Clump to Clump?
Reflect for a moment on my embarrassing horse racing experience as a kid. Have you ever started strong on a goal, only to get sidetracked? Maybe it was a dream you pursued, a habit you tried to build, or a calling you felt led to follow—only to be pulled off course by distractions that seemed important at the time. What ‘clumps of alfalfa’ have you encountered in your journey? Share your story in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!
If this story resonates with you, you’ll find even more insight in Chapter 3 of Intentional Living and Giving, where I cover in more detail why we often don’t achieve the outcomes we hope for—and how we can stay focused on what truly matters. Grab your signed copy at LarryONan.com or order from your favorite bookseller today!
