"A-Horseback Man"

Old cowboys tell the things they knew,

Of spur and horse and rein,

Sometimes exaggerations grew,

Though innocence they feign.

And we don’t care because we hear,

Through our own horseback lens,

So much truth to us is clear,

Blurs where the rest begins.

How wild he was, how free he rode,

The plains and rivers west,

Ranging far, those oats he sowed,

His memories the best,

For those penned up in pastures small,

Or arenas lined with fence,

But still can hear the cattle call,

And always will e’er since,

They somehow heard those good old tales,

At that small stockyard cafe,

Or late around the hay stacked bales,

Heard that old hand say,

Reminds me of when winter froze,

Our boots to our own stirrup,

Trying just to gather those,

From mud as thick as syrup.

And had to drag ‘em out you see,

With rope as stiff as cable,

Through snow to pull that bovine free,

If our horse was able.

Or sunny days without a care,

With knee deep grass and water,

Never missed the city fare,

If heifer fled we caught her.

Haulin’ salt and fixin’ fence,

Never made it into story,

Compared to flyin’ horseback since,

That was our cowboy glory.

There they go and yippee-yay,

Their ponies lopin’ still,

Can’t help but love the cowboy way,

And guess we always will.

He dreamed of safer times like now,

We dream of what he did,

And there we ride with him somehow,

Never to be rid,

Of all it means to us you see,

A truer, simpler way,

A-horseback man always to be,

To live and work and play.

“For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw His majestic splendor with out own eyes when He received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to Him, ‘This is My beloved Son, who brings Me great joy.’” (2 Peter 1:14-16, NLT)

We who love the cowboy way never get tired of horseback stories from the past. But much more importantly are the stories that spark and grow our faith in Jesus Christ. Those stories are absolutely, totally true, and we can trust that what we hear and read was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Then the Holy Spirit who is with us and lives within us helps us understand what He inspired. His majestic story informs and transforms ours.

Lord, set us free with Your truth, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mikel Donahue, used by permission. Thanks, Mikel, and God bless you.