"Far Range"

I don’t really know,

Just how it would be,

To ride the Four Sixes,

With those guys, you see.

I’ve never been horseback,

On the ranch they call King,

I’ve often imagined,

Their round-up in spring.

I have a good friend,

Rides high country, not low,

The place that he works for,

Twin Falls, Idaho.

But he also searches,

For strays in Nevada,

Says cows make a livin’,

There twelve miles an hour.

And, yes, I have gathered,

Yearlings to sell,

So that they were loaded,

Before prices fell.

I’ve roped ‘em and branded,

And cut ‘em and tried,

To keep ‘em all healthy,

So few of them died.

But I dream of those places,

In the far country gone,

Like old Woody Barlett’s,

In Wyoming so long.

Now Woody’s crossed over,

I wonder if he,

Has a view of Tugwater,

And still can see,

The roll of the rangeland,

That used to be his,

The brood mares and babies,

And much more than this.

I guess it’s okay then,

To dream of far range,

A long way ‘tween fences,

And time doesn’t change,

The feeling that must have,

Swept over those men,

Who saw it the first time,

On horseback back when.

Beyond the sunset,

I also will dream,

Of a distant, far rangeland,

That at times can seem,

So real you can see it,

Or hear it or touch,

‘Course I speak of heaven,

That offers so much, 

More than all ranches,

Of earth put together,

Transcendent the beauty,

And who knows if whether,

We’ll see where we came from,

Or remember or not,

Or just horseback forever,

On the range heaven’s got.

So, yes, I am dreaming,

Though I have lots of work,

Miles yet before me,

That I will not shirk.

But with all that is coming,

I praise God today,

For giving assurance,

And for Jesus the way.

“But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them…” (Hebrews 11:16, NLT)

This world is full of beautiful places. The farther out in the country, the better, as far as I’m concerned. But city’s have their beauty, too, I suppose. All of creation reflects the beauty of our Creator who calls us into an eternal relationship through Jesus Christ the Son and the power of God’s Holy Spirit. When we respond to this invitation He lets us know that this world is not our home, but there is one awaiting us. Over and over the scriptures remind us to be heavenly-minded, and when we are, the priorities of day to day living will line up the way they are supposed to. We are looking forward to that place, to being with our God, and those who love Him, forever. It’s what this life is all about. Not this life, but the one to come. Not this home, as beautiful as it may be, but the one to come.

Lord, help us keep a heavenly perspective on every earthly issue, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Don Weller, donweller.com. Used. by permission. Thanks, Don, and God bless you.