"Untrained"

A-rockin’ in the saddle,

Long trottin’ cross the land,

A lookin’ for the cattle,

And some we need to brand.

The sun is shining brightly,

The breeze is cool and light,

The horses are behavin’,

And things are going right.

And then my seasoned gelding,

Thought he saw a bear,

Least that’s the way he acted,

Though I saw nothing there.

He pitched just like a young horse,

He bucked and farted loud,

I was just so thankful,

There wasn’t any crowd.

‘Cause out there in the baldies,

The crew is all you’ve got,

But if your pony misbehaves,

It’s better them than not.

Good luck, there was no buckoff,

I somehow kept my seat,

Went on about our business,

No need to retreat.

But later talked about it,

What happened to old Dan?

Reckon what the trigger,

Of why he bucked and ran.

One of my old pardners,

Reluctant to opine,

Hardly ever talks at all,

And then not many lines.

Said I think I know what happened,

Old Dan, he came untrained,

Don’t have to be a reason,

The problems stays unnamed.

We all sat there thinking,

‘Bout how much that made sense,

Not only with the horses,

But surprise consequence.

When for no apparent reason,

People come untrained,

Do what’s unexpected,

And go briefly insane.

You could blame the devil,

Guess he does his part,

But my guess that the problem,

Is more about the heart.

There just might be a corner,

That still deflects the light,

And sometimes when it manifests,

Things just don’t go right.

Well, that’s getting’ pretty thoughtsy,

For cowboys round a fire,

Plus I’m getting tired,

And ready to retire.

Sometimes it just happens,

A pony comes untrained,

“And maybe there’s a lesson,

For folks who do the same.

“I have discovered this principle of life- that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong…” (Rom. 7:21, NLT).

Anybody who has ridden horses or handled livestock for very long knows that there are times when even the most gentle, dead-broke horse will surprise you. We used to call it coming “untrained.” What’s the point? Paul said in Romans chapter seven that his behavior sometimes reflected an inner conflict between what God wanted him to do and what he ended up doing. In other words, at times he came “untrained” spiritually. He also pointed to Jesus as the ultimate answer and victory over this dilemma. Will I always have something in me that pulls the wrong direction? Yes. But am I doomed to give in to those selfish, sinful impulses? No. The victory comes in personal surrender to Jesus Christ, and in allowing the Holy Spirit to empower us to make righteous choices.

Lord, help us come “untrained” less and empowered to obey more, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mark Maggiori, markmaggiori.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.