"Tin-type"

The old tin-type photos,

Of the trail hands that rode,

The sheriffs and the outlaws,

Could never have showed,

How they felt when they struggled,

To do what they did,

Whether Doc or old Wyatt,

Or Billy the Kid.

The red men with feathers,

Arms folded so grim,

The freed slaves who kept going,

When the trail would grow dim.

The Wild Bunch, the settlers,

Just look at their faces,

The exhausted young children,

Sitting still in their places.

Soiled doves and soldiers,

Cowboys totin’ guns,

Tired farmers grimaced gazing,

The frontier’s old sons.

They worked and they fought,

And they suffered you see,

In America’s story,

For a hope to be free.

We have what they dreamed of,

We want what they had,

But we should remember,

All their trials so bad.

Which says once again,

What we know that is true,

Freedom’s not free,

Not for me or for you.

Just a glimpse and a whisper,

In spite of the hype,

The west was recorded,

In an old brown tin-type.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1, NLT)

Those who went before us remind us of the value of endurance. Now that it is our turn to run, the writer of Hebrews reminds us to lay off every weight that slows us down and especially any sin that causes us to stumble. What would that be exactly? Perhaps it is different for every believer. What challenges some might be a piece of cake for others. But we all have our weaknesses and areas of vulnerability. Be proactive about these, and never let anything obscure our view of Jesus. Run with endurance. That’s the only way to do it.

Lord, help us run our race with endurance, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mark Maggiori, used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.