"Unfenced"

The cowboy way, mystique they say,

The wild, unfenced romance,

The way it went, and some hell-bent,

To take a horseback chance.

But mostly work without a perk,

Except the land and sky,

Beauty there but take a care,

You lived and did not die.

‘Cause lots of threat and grief you’d get,

Just trying to get through,

Romanticized through modern eyes,

The things they had to do.

Heroes home-grown, but still unknown,

Their names to us are lost,

But jingling spur and who they were,

Their stories ne’er exhaust.

To cowboy be is plain to see,

A throwback to those days,

Now horseback boys with techno toys,

Fight for gold-buckle praise.

The way it was we love because,

Life was simpler then,

But now it’s spent and where it went,

We’ll never see again.

Our lives you see they dreamed to be,

They hoped for range with fence,

It’s what we got, in spades a lot,

We’ve longed for freedom since.

But if you look, not in some book,

But beyond horizons ride,

You’ll see a few, they’re cowboy true,

Their circle far outside.

“…I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10, NIV)

We’re all looking for what only Jesus can give us. He is the author of abundant life or better translated, super-abundant life. One of my mentors used to sign every letter with this phrase: “Yours in sharing life’s adventure with Christ.” He meant it, too! The cowboy way of life and other adventurous lifestyles appeal to us but the bottom line is that Jesus is the answer to all our longing. He fills our lives with peace and purpose, and gives us the opportunity to partner with HIm. The great news is that He will harness our natural desires and dreams and use them for His divine purposes. There’s just no doubt about it. Jesus gives abundant life!

Lord, give us abundant life, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bruce Greene, used by permission. Thanks, Bruce, and God bless you.