"After Dark"

I got behind the cattle,

They came from ‘cross the creek,

Belonged to our old neighbor,

And he had tried to seek,

Those steers and one young heifer,

That he had lately missed,

If one of us could pen ‘em,

It would be a big assist.

And I was checking yearlings,

As the sun was going down,

Came across his little bunch,

And trotted on around.

Pointed ‘em across the way,

Toward our barn and old catch pen,

And off they went with me behind,

I’ll get ‘em all and then,

That one young crazy heifer,

She didn’t want to track,

The others kept on going,

But she kept turning back.

I headed her and turned her,

Two times, maybe three,

The night was coming quickly,

And I could hardly see.

And every one of those old steers,

Turned right into the gate,

But derned that one black heifer,

She balked as if to wait.

And then she downright bolted,

With her tail up in the air,

I took down my catch twine,

Threw at the spot just where,

I thought she was going,

‘Cause it was just too dark to see,

But by gosh I caught her,

It really surprised me.

And Deacon, my old pony,

Stopped and turned her right,

We dragged her in the catch pen,

By then there was no light.

A funny little memory,

When I roped one without light,

Some might not believe it,

Doesn’t matter, it’s all right.

‘Cause Lord knows it really happened,

Call it luck, I doubt t’was skill,

In the dark old Deacon tracked her,

And I remember still.

“For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14, NIV)

We are all dominated by darkness until Jesus sets us free! But the good news is just that! He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into His government. God is love and light, and in Him is no darkness at all, according to scripture. When we cooperate with the God of light, He drives out our darkness. He liberates us to walk in the light with Him and others. It’s the best way to live. Don’t run from the light. Welcome it and run to it! The light will set us free.

Lord, drive out our darkness, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Tim Cox, timcox.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Tim, and God bless you.