Out Our Way: Christ's cavvy

Out our way, Charlie and I only used two or three horses for working cattle. Charlie usually rode Jet, a solid bay who was solid and steady, and he often allowed me to ride “Freckles,” an Appaloosa  who was excitable and needed a firm hand. And of course, most of all I rode “Doc” — aka Goliath — 16 ½ hands and 1,200 pounds and unafraid of any bull.

It really didn’t matter all that much which horse we rode as the day’s work was short and usually involved nothing more than riding fence or pushing the herd a bit further down the trail. But in the old days — when cowboys were out for weeks and even months pushing cows across vast distances — the cowboy had a string or “cavvy” of horses, each with its own special ability and talent because  on the Chisholm or Bozeman trails, those unique gifts were critical, especially at the round up.

A good cutting horse was important, as was a solid roping horse, and when it came to crossing rivers, a courageous and strong swimmer was needed. There were horses that didn’t spook easily that were critical for riding night hawk, and solid steady horses for riding drag. A fast and responsive pony was important when riding flank and a solid horse for riding point. Some horses were good in the brush and some were best on open prairie. Some had the stamina for the long drives and others the short bursts needed for going after strays. The point was, you needed different horses with different personalities, talents and attributes .

Every cowboy had his favorite ride, of course, but because of the variety of needs, it was unusual for anyone to refer to even the favorite as the most important. They all were important, each in its own way.   

Jesus chose His disciples the same way a good cowhand chose his cavvy — He saw in each a special ability or talent that was unique and critical to the job that lay ahead. They didn’t always understand that and sometimes would argue about who was the greatest. As we read in scripture, Jesus  rebuked them for their vanity, but also for their inability to grasp that each was part of the overall plan. Like the old time cowboy’s string of horses, each valuable in different ways — each disciple has a special ability, gift, or talent that Christ needed along the way. The cutting horse was critical at branding as was the roping horse, but on the trail, the solid intelligent plodder was the one he wanted. Doc could stand up to bulls, but he was not as fast at Freckles or Jet when it came to chasing runaways. But then, neither Freckles or Jet was as helpful when it came to pushing through the Hawthorne trees and rousting out the hidden cowßs and calves that took refuge there.

Peter was obviously the leader of the group, although more than once that nickname “Peter” — from the Greek for “rock” — had more to do with his density than his courage. Sometimes Simon “Peter” frustrated Christ to no end when it became clear he could be “dumber than a box of rocks” — and the name “Peter” took on a whole different meaning. But even so, he had a special gift which Christ wanted when He chose him for his “cavvy of disciples”

But what of the others? John became the only one to die of old age rather than martyrdom, but he was the sensitive one God chose to reveal the big picture in the Book of Revelation. Judas was the betrayer, for he was weak and vain, but his role was necessary, too, for Christ came to give His life in atonement for our sin. As for the others, we only know each served Christ in a special way. Thomas died in India proclaiming the Gospel; James died in Spain, it is said; Andrew is claimed as a martyr and patron of Scotland … and so forth and so on. I don’t know the fate of each disciple — except all went out to spread the Gospel and, with the exception of John, all died while doing so. Who was the greatest of them all? None. Who was the most important? All. Each had a gift and a task, and each fulfilled it according to God’s plan.    

Sadly, the lesson Jesus taught the disciples is often lost on the Church — for we see the power struggles in Corinth which the Apostle Paul fought against as different factions sought to raise themselves above each other as the most “important.” Even to this day, there are those who call themselves Christians and even disciples who fail to grasp the unique role each believer has in the work of the Kingdom and rather than serve Christ, divide His Church and so serve the Enemy rather than the Lord.

Remember Christ’s “cavvy” is made up of many different folks, each with her or his special gift and role. There are different needs and different gifts — but only one “cavvy.” Christ chose you for His string because of what you bring to the Kingdom’s work. Preacher, teacher, singer, church board member, quiet prayer warrior…. Who is the most important? All of us! Many different people, many different functions, but as Paul reminded us — all part of the same body. In Christ’s “Cavvy” there is no “greatest,” only “great” in his or her own special way. 

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John Bruington