Out Our Way: A soft word - Proverbs 15:1

Out our way, patience is a virtue and as necessary when working cows as a good horse, rope and saddle. Maybe more! 

I have shared with you my first stampede set off by an impatient rancher who had become frustrated by the indifference and stupidity of his herd of Angus. Driving his old pickup into the milling herd as we were getting them together to trail them to the corral and branding chutes, he started honking the horn and scattered the herd.

It took us another two hours to get them all together again and then down to the chutes.

For my part, I learned that chasing spooked cattle by galloping in their midst and shouting at them was not very productive either, and only when I calmed myself could I begin to calm them. Walking slowly, speaking softly, calming their nerves by being calm myself allowed us "to reason together" (Isaiah 1;18).

It's a good lesson for just getting along and moving forward amongst humans too. Learning to listen to understand rather than to merely refute is something far too few people know how to do these days. Accusations rather than debate have become the norm, and the "herd" is agitated rather than persuaded. Anger, bigotry, control rather than discussion and discourse are the new norms.

Those who do not know God and remain blind, deaf and ignorant to wisdom, knowledge and truth. Like the pagan and morally corrupt Pontius Pilate who feared the crowds and wanted approval more than justice, we ask, "What is truth?" (John 18:38), for we no longer know.

Maybe it's time to calm down - to speak softly and learn to listen and find out. A raging spirit cannot discern, but only react. A raging soul responds not to truth but to fear, hate and prejudice. We who seek to challenge the amoral mentality of the times in which good and evil, right and wrong are becoming meaningless terms need to calm our own spirits before we seek to calm others.

A soft word turns away wrath ... and it also opens eyes, ears, and hearts. The foolish who confuse bullying with debate only inflame and divide; he/she does not convince or persuade. Instead of seeking to overcome the fool's ignorance with even greater foolishness, let us seek the quiet and calming way of wisdom. Let us wait for as long as it takes for reason to take hold and allow civil tongues and open minds to come together. Patience is a virtue that, although costly, is worth the price.

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].