"Call It Cowboy"

They want to call it cowboy,

And who am I to say,

That what they’re callin’ cowboy,

Is really not okay.

‘Cause what I know about it,

Is based on blood and sweat,

Mean labor with the livestock,

And agony, you bet.

When some old ornery heifer,

Just wanted to get out,

And went just where she shouldn’t,

And we were sent, no doubt,

To track her down and rope her,

Off in some brushy place,

Where she ran just like a deer,

Low branches in your face.

One time I bled a river,

My nose broke by a limb,

A day hand at a gallop,

A horseback followed him,

Trying to turn some yearlings,

Determined to escape,

And, yes, we were successful,

But made my nose sure break.

I remember in the summer,

In the hay field really hot,

Or fighting those old skeeters,

Down in some boggy spot.

And gettin’ scratched by bob wire,

That sticky, gaucho kind,

And it was best not to complain,

With kindness hard to find.

But only do it faster,

And stretch that wire so tight,

That maybe it will stay there,

And hold those bulls all right.

And one time I was ridin’,

A young horse but old saddle,

And then he started buckin’,

As we penned the cattle.

And never had it happened,

But both the cinches broke,

And all the way down to the ground,

I fell, it was no joke.

But many people saw it,

And found some humor there,

At least they got some pleasure,

And I’m not sure I care.

And lots of other stories,

‘Bout when it got so cold,

That fingers almost frost-bit,

And could hardly hold,

The reins as it was sleetin’,

And really comin’ down,

And all that we could think about,

Was some warm place in town.

So you may call it cowboy,

Or any name you choose,

I’m not sure it matters,

Or what there is to lose.

If some of us old grumpies,

Think that we know better,

Truth is that we really don’t,

Know more than these trend-setters.

There’s bigger hats and wild rags,

And real high dollar jeans,

And pricey shirts and buckles,

And sometimes it just seems,

That it’s more about the fashion,

Than work that’s getting done,

Not that I’m against it,

Just pokin’ round for fun.

I guess when skills are needed,

Time comes to pen a cow,

And when the dust is flyin’,

Good some still know how.

Sometimes they call it cowboy,

And who am I to say,

They are wrong and I am right

Just ‘cause we once lived that way.

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them…” (Romans 12:9, NLT)

The world is full of pretenders, including the cowboy world. They used to say “he’s all hat and no cattle.” The same can be said of those who claim to follow Jesus Christ. Paul encouraged the Roman believers not to be pretenders, but to really love each other. In fact loving people shows that our faith in the Lord is the real thing. We all have our faults and failings, but a life of authentic discipleship is made possible by the work and power of the Holy Spirit. He will work through us to do all God has called us to do, including loving those who pose a challenge to us. Don’t just pretend, do it. And because we can, we should.

Lord, help us live as Your authentic followers, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bill Anton, used by permission. Thanks, Bill, and God bless you.