Running With the Horses

I spent this weekend on a horse farm in Kentucky.

Not the kind of “horse farm” that just simply has land and horses but a real one. One that prepares all year for the Kentucky Derby.

Named Winstar, its ground, arguably holy, sits 15 minutes outside of Lexington. Winstar holds true reverence through all the world, and it was a great honor to spend a few days on its ground. In 2018, Winstar produced the 13th horse to ever win the triple crown, a horse named Justified who won every race it ever ran in, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. As we walked around the property, soaking in its untraceable beauty, both rest and fire revived my soul.

Hebrews 12 has been a pillar for my walk with Jesus in this season.

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (verses 1-2)

I believe in all of our lives, Christ has set before us a race to run. While we have breath in our lungs, each one of us has been made BY God FOR God, to live within the divine calling of our lives. A calling to pursue holiness and purity, a calling to let the goodness of God be known to all we encounter. Often times I find people feel lost in “their calling”but the truth is, our calling is the simple part, it has been clearly told to us all. We all have the same calling to “make disciples of all nations.” The vessel God uses for that in each of us is the unique part. However, there is certainly no vessel greater than the other to get to this same destination. A school teacher speaking into the life of children, is just as important as the hotel clerk walking in joy, is just as important as me writing songs that might carry the relatability of human emotions.

In all of our lives, there is a race that is set before us, and it is a race that only can be judged in light of eternity. I really desire to run it well and with endurance.

As I saw the horses this weekend, horses that are some of the greatest runners in the world, I marveled at the discipline they must have to be great. These are horses who train to be great, they dedicate their lives to it. Greatness requires everything. Endurance requires enduring.

I, naturally, thought of Jeremiah 12.

If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? (verse 5)

Taking this year off touring has been both hard and beautiful. I will be honest that much of it I have missed often. I certainly am excited for the day I feel a release to return fully to a touring schedule. I miss the shows, the travel, the sleep in the tour bus, the cities, the band, and most of all you guys. After 4 years straight of close to 100 shows a year, the full stop has not been easy.

However, it has also given me so much time to stop and reflect on the gift of all of it. What an incredible gift I have been given. Because of y’all, I have been entrusted with this career to write songs and travel the world offering them to others. No words, by weight or length, could ever express the gratitude and reverence I have for that truth. THANK YOU.

Being given such an amazing opportunity, I want to give everything I have to stewarding it well. When I say stewarding well, I don’t mean towards a goal of highest fame or success but toward a goal of greatest possible impact to the people in which my job might reach.

The time off the road has allowed me to look back on the things I did well on the road versus the things I did not. The places I won and the places I failed. And in this reflection it gets me so excited.

This weekend we return again! If only for three shows over the next two weekends, but still it is shows again! The first two, as direct support for Thomas Rhett, the place it all started for me. What an amazing blessing.

I look to this weekend as a practice run for the next chapter of touring. Touring that is fully intentional and on mission. Touring that is not simply surviving but truly alive. Touring that does not get weary in the foot race of men but touring that contends with horses.

This is my mindset heading in. I believe this time off the road has been so intentional by God so that He might work growth in me in many ways. I am grateful for the chance this weekend to run again.

-Conner