Out Our Way: Riding Drag - 2 Corinthians 8:12

Out our way, trail drives are rare these days but come the fall and spring, there comes the time to gather and then push the herd from one pasture to the next. Compared to the old days, such "trail drives" are pretty easy and unremarkable, but some things never change. Riding drag is still the low end of the herding experience.

Traditionally, the folk tapped to ride drag were the least skilled and unimportant of the wranglers. To ride flank or swing required a higher skill level and to be point was the most important place reserved for the top hands. Riding drag was just to push from behind and eat trail dust the whole way - and required virtually no skill at all. If you could sit on a horse you could ride drag. And that is where I always ended up at each roundup. 

Yet, as Charlie - who rode point swing and flank as needed - pointed out, riding drag was still important and someone had to do it. Others with greater skills and experience were needed to lead the way, keep the herd together on the trail, or go after those jugheads that bolted from the herd. And though, comparatively speaking, it wasn't much, someone needed to eat dust and keep pushing from the rear. Yup, and although on the scale of importance and skill level the guy riding drag was at the very bottom of the list, it was still a needed position to be filled. One that even a rank amateur like me could handle ... and did. 

Now, Paul knew there were followers of Christ who felt like they were "riding drag" for the Kingdom as well. They saw disciples with greater skills, stronger faith, and who were seemingly vastly more valuable to the work of the Gospel than they were. The great and shining ones whom all the world noticed and whom the Church esteemed and honored made great contributions to the ministry that impacted the whole world. But not all Christians were called to such things.

Largely unremarkable and unknown folks just plodded along, unspectacular and largely unnoticed within the Church as well as outside. Their gifts were few and their contributions seemingly important. But Paul said, "Not so!"

"For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has , not according to what one does not have."

God may not need another point rider. Maybe He has enough folks to ride swing and flank. But He always needs those who are willing to accept being "least in the Kingdom" and ride drag. Remember, though it is the lowest level in the cowboy hierarchy, the herd would not move at all unless someone rode drag.

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].