"Cowhand"

Bawling cattle ‘cross the pastures,

Strung out slowly as they trail,

Dusty cowhands movin’ slowly,

Lord knows from where they hail.

Some born into this horseback life,

Others came here from some town,

Where they read or heard about tit,

And when they did they liked the sound,

Of those who told them stories,

About adventures movin’ cows,

And they dreamed until it happened,

Finally got out there somehow.

And now they make their livin’,

A-horseback in the wind,

Like the ones who rode before ‘em,

Generations way back then.

Most would have no other work,

Though diverse in race and creed,

A life they chose to wrangle,

And as long as there’s a need,

To husband those old cattle,

And the household needs a steak,

There will always be a cowhand,

Who will do just what it takes,

To watch, rope, count and gather,

Doctor, rotate ‘round, defend,

The bovine ‘cross the country,

On a horse that he calls friend.

And the romance and the beauty,

Bigger than the sweat and pain,

And those who really love it,

Would do it all again.

Not unlike the ones who finally come,

From every tribe and place,

To seek the Savior, let Him lead,

And learn to seek His face.

Bound by that relationship,

That work and mission, too,

To gladly come when called upon,

What’s needed they will do.

The cowboy way alive and well,

But even more today,

To love it all and love the Lord,

And never fear to say,

The cattle on a thousand hills,

Are His so scriptures read,

And some are called to give them care,

And let the Savior lead.

“For all the animals of the forest are Mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are Mine.” (Psalm 50:10-11, NLT)

There is a strong connection between the Creator and His creation. These verses tell us He is the owner of all the animals of the field, the birds, and the cattle. We don’t worship nature, but many times it is that connection that brings us closer to the Lord. There is a wonder in the quiet places, and there we often hear His voice and feel His presence where human noise cannot drown Him out. For this reason many see an affinity between the cowboy way and the Lord. No, not all cowboys love Jesus. And it is certainly not our mission to make people into cowboys. Rather we are called to make disciples. But because of the obvious intersection it is something God will use. It’s wonderful when He does and grace dawns in the human heart.

Lord, teach us to seek You with all our hearts, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bill Owen, cowhorsegallery.com, used by permission. Thanks, and God bless.