Out Our Way: Of spurs and quirts

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Out our way, reasoning with jug-headed cows and mule-headed horses is considered a waste of time. You can train a horse up to point and some are pretty sharp. Ole Doc didn't need much help - except he never could get the hang of his left lead - but, every now and then, he had to be "educated" as to who was boss.

Now, there was a time when some - I will presume they were city folks from back East - started making headlines by claiming the wearing of spurs or using a quirt was "animal abuse." As far as they were concerned, anyone who wore spurs or tied a quirt around their wrist, did so out of a cruel desire to cause pain, suffering, and general abuse to the horse. Well, there may well be such demented souls in the world - just as there are some folks who enjoy abusing and hurting their children, but I never met any of them. Nevertheless I knew many folks who wore spurs or rode with a quirt - and, in fact, I was one of them. 

A quick story: On one of the trails I often rode, there was a very tiny stream that crossed the path. In order to prevent erosion, someone had placed a cut open rubber tube where the stream crossed the trail so the water could flow freely but not eat away at the pathway.

For some reason, that rubber tubing spooked the life out of Doc and he would shy every time. But we had to get over it to the other side. So when we came up to it, I snapped his rear with the quirt just when he started to shy, he leapt forward, and was over and past the "monster" before he remembered to be afraid, and we continued on our way. 

Now in 2 Corinthians 12, Paul speaks about God using "spurs/quirt/thorns" to get him over obstacles. Think about it. Although he spent the latter part of his life as a condemned criminal who was eventually beheaded by the pagan emperor because of his faith, Paul wrote most of the New Testament, founded unnumbered congregations in the Middle East, Europe and beyond; and laid much of the groundwork for the Christian faith from within the confines of his imprisonment. In addition, he was sick and in pain much of the time. Yet instead of complaining, he rejoiced, for "the thorns in the flesh" were what kept him going. These "spurs and quirts" of God encouraged him as he saw how they pushed him forward when he wanted to quit or go back. 

Unlike some pop "religious" leaders today who brag about their wealth and power, Paul saw the danger and rejoiced in the fact that God kept the spurs and quirts going so he would not fall into that apostasy of self-delusion and self-worship so many modern so called "evangelists" have embraced. 

"This is the way - walk in it!" (Isaiah 30:21). It is not an easy path and, like Doc facing that rubber tube "monster," we may need a nudge from God's spurs or quirt to leap over it and keep going on the "Way." 

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].