At the Edge of Trust: The Bramble & Clover Story

They are scared. They cower in the corner. Bramble stamps forward, shielding the younger Clover. Clover ducks behind, his fuzzy brown nose peeks out like an innocent kitten—unsure why we are the enemy.

Yet somehow, he senses we are not.

These two young goats—slaughterhouse escapees—had just come into our care.

Bramble, around three years old, is world-wiser than little Clover. And dear Clover, with his shaggy brown pantaloons, his baby teeth tell us he’s eight months old. Both have been torn from everything familiar. Rounded up. Separated from family. Trucked off for slaughter.

Their precious lives exchanged for a few pieces of silver.
But they had other plans.

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”—Neale Donald Walsch

Now they sit on the edge of that zone. And from that trembling ledge, a new life begins. “Should I stand, stamp or flee?” That question echoes each time we gently approach.

Clover, not yet hardened by the world, shows flickers of trust. But Bramble—the protector and veteran of human betrayal—rushes to caution and shield him.

And yet, day by day, they soften. Bramble, still wary, reveals a tender heart. He’s taken on the role of guardian—a burden no young soul should bear.

But at feeding time, his cheeky spark returns as he nudges in for first dibs.

Little Clover looks so confused, it nearly breaks us. We desperately want to gather him close and whisper in his twitching ear, “It’s okay, little buddy. It’s okay.” But the fear of frightening him holds us back.

So we hold space instead—trusting that every safe place was once unknown.

“Comfort is your biggest trap and coming out of your comfort zone your biggest challenge.”—Manoj Arora.

Like us, their brains are wired for safety. But we know that growth does not bloom in stillness. With this wisdom guiding us we stay—calm, present, kind. Not pushing. Just being. Waiting, until they are ready.

And our patience is working. Though fear may have followed them here, something else is arriving.

They are moving into the learning zone—where trust can form and growth can begin.

“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek”—Joseph Campbell.

And maybe, like Bramble and Clover—where life has betrayed us and fear stands guard at the door—we too can find the courage to step forward. For when we use trust as the key, we’ll find the treasure of connection, safety and belonging.