Lesson 275 Cowboy Wisdom

Army of Tennessee Chaplain David Chaltas

Cowboy Wisdom

During this holy of holiest weekends, I was privileged to be the guest of the French Broad River Dude Ranch located at Del Rio, Tennessee.  The Wild West scheduled event was all inspiring with Michael Martin Murphy, Belinda Gail, Asleep at the Wheel, Johnny Hot Spot, John Wayne, Hopalong Cassidy, Wild Bill Hickok, Oak Ridge SASS, Professor Farquar, and Native Americans from the East and West performing.  All were impressive.  All gave their full measure to make the event successful. 

There were other men and women but one man in particular impressed me with his poetry.  His name is Waddie Mitchell.  I had met Waddie a few years ago at another event and was amazed by ability to remember his and other people’s poetry.  This time though, his heart performed, as he showed the man behind the legend.  One particular poem made me think.  I asked him if I could take his poetry and use it for a lesson.  Waddie, in typical cowboy fashion, nodded and gave me the ole ‘you’re welcome to pardner’ so likened those men of yesteryear.  I offer his poetry, with an apology, as to my poor ability to recall all the details.

There was a time back in the west when a little town began to grow.  Now this town had a sheriff, a mayor, a saloon and all the other needed officials for a fledgling town needed except for one particular ingredient. That was a preacher and a church.  Well the fine town folk decided to build a small church at the end of town; a sort of out of the way place where they might go once a week.   Upon completion, they decided to find a preacher and began sending notices of their need back east.

A young man, who just finished schooling for preaching, heard about their need and telegraphed them.  His requirements were modest so the town invited him to come live with them and become their preacher.  He accepted and after an arduous journey, made it to the western town.  It was not at all what he had envisioned but he felt God must have guided him there.  He arrived on Monday and spent most of the week visiting and attempting to get to know the small yet potential congregation.  He invited everyone to attend.

That Sunday came and he rang the bell with great fanfare.  To his dismay only one dusty ole cowboy came meandering in to the church.  The young parson waited but soon realized that his congregation would be this old roughened leathery cowboy. 

He approached the cowboy with apology and stated to him that maybe next week there would be more people and if he would come back next Sunday, he would offer a service.

That old cowboy scratched his head for a minute then looked at the young preacher. 

“Son, I don’t know much about preaching but I know a heap about cowboying.  I also know about cows.  Now if I have a herd of cows, put feed out for them to eat and only one decides to eat, well I don’t turn it the cow away.  I feed him,” said the ole cowboy.

The young preacher was a tad ashamed and embarrassed, but realizing the truth of the cowboy’s words decides to offer a sermon.  Moved by the thought of ‘where two or more are gathered’, the young parson begins preaching about salvation.  The spirit descended upon him and he began to offer a sermon about hail fire and damnation along with the need for repentance.  He preaches for over two hours and finally when he tired, he noted the old cowboy fast asleep.

Perplexed by the sleeping cowboy, he walked over and nudged the cowboy.

“Sir, you told me about that cow and how it needed to be fed.   I thought I understood your meaning but I looked up after my sermon and discovered that you were asleep” the youthful parson stated, fighting the hurt and anger.

The old cow wrangler, looked up at the preacher, grabbed his dusty stained hat and with the wit of someone who rode the ranch said, “Well preacher you are right.  I did tell you the cow needed feeding but I didn’t mean for you to ‘founder’ the poor animal”.

Friends, sometimes in our zeal to reach others we turn them off with our rhetoric.  On occasion we need to be still and allow the spirit to speak to the person.  Knowing when to preach and teach is important.  Knowing when to end the preaching and lesson is most vital.  Sometimes we talk just to hear our tongue wag.  James 3: 5 states, “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.”  At times our poor judgment gets in our way of the word.  Proverbs 11:12 says, “A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.”  After all, the Bible teaches us that, “No man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:8.   Sometimes we need to know when to hold our tongue and allow the brain to engage. 

Our mission is to lead men and women to Christ by example.  There is an old saying that goes like this:  ‘You can’t budge them if God don’t nudge them.’  I think we are only the messenger.  We should only give what God offers and then allow God to work with the person.  After all, I do believe he has been in this business longer that any of us put together.   Thanks Waddie for a great lesson for this preacher!  Learning as I go to talk less and say more while biting my tongue on occasion, I remain the old general