Out Our Way: Ride for the ridge - 1 John 4:7-21

      Out our way, working new grazing grounds can be a puzzle. Not being familiar with the area, I can get easily turned around. I can’t even tell you which way is north sometimes as I get so mixed up. Following cattle trails can be just as confusing as there are usually a multitude and they sometimes meander. 

Now Charlie and I were working some herds for a friend of ours in an area I had not ridden before. Charlie, of course, knew the area as over the years he had ridden for a number of outfits and was familiar with most of cattle country and pretty well knew most of the grazing lands. But as a tenderfoot/greenhorn cowboy, once we got out of Charlie’s truck and unloaded the horses, I hadn’t a clue as to where we were or where we were going. And like nearly every real-deal cowhand I worked with over the years, instead of laughing at my ignorance or looking down at my inadequacies, Charlie encouraged me and really made the effort to help me learn “the trade.”

On this occasion, we were pushing together a herd and moving them to a better grazing area to our east. Like I say, the cow/calf units were scattered all over in small groups and Charlie sent me after several small bands we spotted in one area while he rode after another grouping in another direction. “But Charlie,” I complained, “I am already turned around and haven’t any idea which way to go. Which trail do I follow? There are so many of them!”

Well Charlie just smiled and pointed to a large ridge off in the distance. “Don’t worry about which trail to follow — just head for the ridge there on the horizon and you won’t go wrong.” Sure enough, although I didn’t really know north from south at that point, I did know where the ridge was, and as I gathered several small bands and got them moving together, I just pointed them toward the ridge. It didn’t matter which rail the various units followed as long as they were heading towards the ridge — and when we finally got there, sure enough, there was the gate that opened out onto the fresh grass and water of the promised grazing grounds.

     In 1 John, the Apostle talks about love being the ridge we push toward. Unlike English, the Greek, in which the New Testament was written, has four distinct words we translate as love. The most important being “agape” — the unselfish love that has nothing to do with emotions, but with simply seeking the best for another.

“Love (agape)  your enemy” doesn’t mean you have to like the old cuss — it simply means you treat him or her as a child of God, for no matter how ornery and unlovable they may be in your eyes, that is what they are. “Agape” love is that ridge in the distance.

I get upset and frustrated with people who rub me the wrong way. Some folks are just not easy to love. But again, agape love isn’t about feelings. It is not a noun so much as a verb.  To love (agape) is not about what I feel so much as what I do. God calls me to head for the ridge whether I feel like it or not. God is love. To serve Him we have to ride for the ridge. 

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Brother John

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The Rev. John Bruington is the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He now lives in Colorado, but continues to write “Out Our Way.” He can be reached for comment or dialogue at [email protected]. His book “Out Our Way: Theology Under Saddle” is available at Amazon.