Out Our Way: Keep'em moving - Psalm 22 and Psalm 23

     Out our way, God has many ways to teach those willing to learn. And He uses a great variety of teachers. Sometimes it is in reading the inspired scriptures, sometimes it is to be discovered in an inspiring sermon by a gifted preacher; sometimes it is in the sage advice of a good friend - and sometimes God speaks and teaches us without words.

No one gets through life without trials and tears - and as many of you know, I have faced a great many in the past few years. The Book of Job is reportedly the most commonly read book of the Bible and I now understand why that is so. There is some comfort in discovering you are not the only one upon whom unexpected and surely underserved trials have fallen. Like Job's wife, many tell us to "curse God and die." [ Job 2:9] Like Job, many friends may tell us to accept blame for the sorrows that have come upon us as our just deserts, even when we cannot discover any evil or wrong doing on our part to justify it. [Job 3]. Like Job, we are at a loss to understand the trials we are forced to endure. In Job we discover that evil can come upon the best and most righteous of people. In Job, we can learn that sometimes there is no explanation - there is only the suffering and sorrow and all we can do is endure and ask God to deliver us from it. And, most importantly, in Job we can be reminded that even in the darkest hours, God is still with us and will eventually deliver us. This is also the lesson of Psalm 22 of which Christ reminded His followers and His enemies by quoting the first line: "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?"

While those ignorant of scripture and of the context of the quote, "the cry of dereliction" as it is sometimes falsely labeled seems to indeed be words of despair. But to the Jew of His day, reciting the first line was simply a way to call attention to the whole Psalm. Those who know the Psalm Jesus cited did not hear sorrow or hopelessness, but understood it as a message of triumph. Read the Psalm in its entirety, compare it with the crucifixion itself and the resurrection that followed, and you will understand the message Christ was delivering in His darkest moment. 

Job and Psalm 22 both give us hope for the future, but what about the present? I am indebted to Charlie and a large number of stubborn cows for teaching me something on that subject. As I have often noted in these columns, cattle are not exactly the smartest critters on earth and come time to move from overgrazed pastures where the water is running low to where there are "green pastures and still waters" [ Psalm 23] takes some effort. Charlie and I have to ride the backcountry to find those cattle that have wandered off and away from the main herd. I have heavy leather chaps because they often hide in the deep arroyos surrounded by thorn bushes and such. And I guarantee they are not happy about being forced out from their cozy "homes" back onto the prairie and away from the familiar. The calves born in February and used to the winter pastures are especially upset for we are forcing them out of their comfort zones. You can often tell where Charlie and I are from just the sound of bawling calves and protesting cows.

But cows, as I said, are not especially gifted in the brains department and do not understand the why of the move. They bellow and try to escape us feeling they are being unfairly treated. They don't understand. Just like me as I am being forced out of my comfort zone by trials, sorrows, and tribulations that come my way. I bellow and bawl just like a young calf of heifer. But just as Charlie and I are actually doing this seemingly uncalled for and unjustified hazing - so I have come to believe - or at least try as best I can to believe - "I believe! Help my unbelief!" Mark 9:24 - and trust the Divine Herder knows what He is doing. In the midst of my confusion and fears all I can do is keep moving.

The cattle protest and resist, but Charlie and I keep'em moving, and eventually we get them to where they would have willingly gone had they known why they were being pushed. Charlie rode point and flank while I rode swing and drag, and eventually they reach the good pasture and sweet water they did not understand was ahead. Read Psalm 22 again and understand the message Christ was giving from the cross. Unlike us, He understood the why of the trials and where they would leave. He trusted God and that trust was not in vain. 

I am still confused, frightened and resistance mode, but God keeps me moving. He will not leave me behind to perish in a dying pasture and drying up water holes despite my desire to stay there. He breaks me out of my comfort zone by making me uncomfortable. Those cattle Charlie and I pushed didn't understand, but we did. And moving those resisting, frustrated and angry cow/calf units and bulls became my preachers and teachers. For in them I have come to see myself, and as they needed Charlie and the other cowhands to keep'em moving for their own good, I was given a theological lesson to ponder. I begin to believe that indeed God is keeping me moving despite my protests and bawling for the same reasons.   

I have not yet seen the green pastures or the still waters the Scripture tells me is ahead, but I begin to grasp the promise I real. My faith is shaky, but God keeps pushing me forward through the trials and tribulations He has allowed me to endure and the word of God - and especially the Word of God - tells me to just keep moving. God knows what He is doing even if I do not.

Blessings!

Brother John Bruington