Bridge Called Hope, Stories of Triumph from the Ranch of Rescued Dreams

by Kim Meeder, Multnomah Publishers, 2006, 256 Pages, ISBN: 1590526554, $13.99

In her new release, Kim Meeder, continues the stories of rescued and abused horses she wrote about in Hope Rising. The horses, when reconditioned by love and medical rehabilitation at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, are then paired with equally abused and neglected children who visit the ranch—one child, one horse and one volunteer leader at a time. The mysterious bond between horse and child gives each the courage to reach for emotional and physical healing, and equips them to cross the bridge of hope.

Meeder, a product of violent loss because of her parent’s murder-suicide, found hope on the day of their funeral in a merciful God, a little horse, and her first riding experience. That understanding taught her that love is a “bridge that can cross any span of grief. Love builds the bridge…it is we who must choose to cross.” Meeder took her first tentative steps on that bridge, not suspecting where God’s direction would lead, or the leader she would become.

Years later, Kim met and married her husband, Troy, and they purchased an abandoned, nine-acre cinder mine. For two years they renovated the broken property with used stall shavings, manure, and old, discarded trees, to become a perfect fit for a place that would heal children’s broken hearts. Today the youth ranch serves four thousand visitors a year.

Since its inception, the ranch has rescued over three hundred abused and dying horses and today is the permanent home for thirty. Youthful visitor’s eyes brighten with miraculous hope after visiting with their chosen horse. Some children are ill, some dying, others, emotionally ravaged. Meeder writes, “all like shattered shards of stained glass are refitted by the Hand of God.”

When Meeder won the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for Hope Rising, it launched an extensive motivational/public speaking demand and brought worldwide recognition and visitors to the ranch. Crystal Peaks’ services are free, funded by individual financial gifts, grants, and fundraising events. Through it all, Meeders’ simple prayer is, “Lord, let your wisdom fall.”

I would nominate this book of the year if I could. Meeders lyrical writing, paired with intensely emotional true experience stories of children and animals will require at least one, if not two full boxes of tissue.