Meanwhile, here's something that I wrote about seeking God's purpose, even when we might be mistaken in thinking that he doesn't really have much in mind for us.
The Lord Loves Cowpunchers Too
It has been my experience that cowpunchers don’t seem to pay
a whole lot of attention to the Bible. As far as I can tell, the reason is...
the Good Book doesn’t actually make any mention of cowpunchin’. Oh, sure,
there’s a lot of talk about farmin’, all that reapin’ and sowin’, and what not;
and sure, there’s alota mention of sheep herdin’, what with the Good Shepherd
looking for lost sheep, and so on, but nary a word about ropin’ or tying wild
cows. Because of this, I’m afraid cowpunchers are under the mistaken impression
that the Lord forgot all about them. Well, I’ve got news for you boys. He’s got
plans for you too.
You see, the Lord put us all here for a reason. We’re not
just supposed to wander around, doing what we please all the time, looking out
for old number one, paying no attention to fences that need mending, or a cow
ballin’ off in some canyon. The Lord has work for everybody, and the Lord’s got
a job for you too.
Now there’s lots of lost souls in this old world… strays who
have lost their way. Who do you figure is better suited for finding those
strays, than a cowboy? If you think about it, really, that’s what a working
cowboy does. He goes out and finds a creature, which doesn’t necessarily want
to be found, and he brings him home. The way I see it, the Lord put you fellers
in this world to cast for those strays, and to gather ‘em to him. He needs some
folks who can trail, and who are willing to cross a few of them old rough
canyons, and search those brushy thickets; cause as you know, you find strays
in the damnedest places. The Lord owns every one of them. He bought ‘em all, a
long time ago, and he paid top price. He wants the whole lot brought too him,
every last one.
Now it’s not so much, that the Lord needs your help,
although he welcomes it. You see, the works doesn’t just benefit the stray; it
benefits you too. It’s kinda like when you were a kid, and your pa use to make
you chop firewood, or hoe weeds. Sure, he benefited from your labor, by not
having to do it himself. But he knew that you also gained from it, by building
some muscle on your skinny frame, and learning something about the value of a
hard days work. In the case of the stray, he gets helped out of a tight spot,
and you get sort of a warm feeling for helpin’ him, too. Sometimes, it’s hard
to tell which one gets the most good out of it. That’s how the Lord’s deal
works. There’s one other thing you might need to know. The Lord runs his outfit
different than most you might have been with in the past. He doesn’t go in for
rude or uppity behavior. That’s what he meant about the top boss among you
being the servant of all.
Now the Lord swings a wide loop. It covers all men. He said,
“If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me.” That means you too, cowboy.
When he was raised up on that cross, the Lord pitched his loop, and dallied,
and turned us all towards heaven. Now don’t get me wrong. Unlike the unruly
steer, we can slip his rope, if we want to. We can trot off into the brush with
a high head, and straight to hell. But who would we be foolin?
Not the Lord, he sees us wherever we bush up. Not Satan,
he’s just waitin’ to rustle us, and drag us off into his hole. It’s just
yourselves that you’re foolin’, if you think you’re hidin’ out.
Now the jokes on you boys, if you don’t join the herd, cause
it’s on the Glory Trail. It’s headin’ to a mighty pretty place, come on along.
Where we’re going, the pastures will be green and the waters still, and clear.
There’ll be shade when you want it, warmth when it suits you, and rest for the
weary. Nobody will go hungry, and nobody will be sore or sorrowful anymore, and
there’ll be folks there that knows you.
Now I’m not gonna lie to you. It’s a long walk, and you’ll
probably end up ridin’ drag most of the time. Sure, it’s a little too far
between water, and you might be gant and crippled before the trip ends. But
you’ll draw your pay at the end, boys. You’ll draw your pay at the end of that
trail.
M.J. Smith
12/15/03
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“They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither
shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst
of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of
waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Revelation 7: 16,
17.
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