"First Rodeo"

I went to my first rodeo,

When I was six years old,

Way back in 1958,

The first SLE I’m told.

And it was an early reason,

That  I always thought I’d be,

A -horseback and a cowboy,

The life was meant for me.

Those TV cowboy westerns,

I watched ‘bout everyday,

And livin’ on a cattle ranch,

I’d hear the cowboys say,

You keep on ridin’ with us,

And you will make a hand,

As we moved and doctored cattle,

Chasin’ yearlings cross our land.

And so there in my DNA,

The cowboy blood runs free,

In some ways I can’t help it,

It’s my identity.

And I never won a buckle,

Or got famous with my rope,

But there are many like me,

And all they ever hope,

Is that they can show up steady,

To do what must be done,

With horses or with cattle,

If it’s slow or on the run.

To be a hand that you can count on,

On time and never late,

Trot up when they are needed,

When they call and throw the gate.

And yes sometimes the poser,

Pretenders show up, too,

But if they are a gunsel,

You’ll see it soon, it’s true.

Who’s real and who just isn’t,

Means little in my thoughts,

Imitation can be flattery,

Cowboy lessons have their costs.

And when they show it on TV,

People love to turn it on,

I feel no need to comment,

Or police just what is wrong.

There is a surge of interest,

Now in the cowboy way,

And I for one am thankful,

So now cowboys can say,

That the thing that really matters,

Is not a cowboy hat,

Or pearl snaps on a cowboy shirt,

Or the boots you wear, all that.

But it’s about the Lord above,

And living life His way,

To the glory of the Savior,

And to do it everyday.

So cowboy up and cowboy on,

Long live the hands that try,

But make sure you know the Savior,

And are ready when you die

“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” (Revelation 2:4, NAS)

When we think about our lives and go back to the roots of what we love and how we behave, it helps us connect the dots between motivations and action. When John wrote to the Ephesian church the Spirit called them tor revisit their spiritual roots. He wanted them to return to their first love and first actions as Christian believers. He wanted to use them in greater ways, but they needed that first love to rekindle them spiritually. It’s a great lesson for all of us. Go back to your first rodeo.

Lord, help us return to our first love for You, in Jesus’ name.

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