Out Our Way: Head for the barn

Hebrews 12:1 - "With perseverance let us run the race marked for us"

Out our way, the long days can be a real test of strength and endurance. Most of you have heard my old joke - at least 10 times, no doubt - of how when Charlie asked me to come cowboy with him I said, "Sure! What can it hurt?"

Boy, did I find out!

Anyway, those of you who have worked cattle know it can be a long, hard and, sometimes, painful day. The heat of the sun all day, right in your face - even the silk scarf doesn't get it all - and, especially with a four left-hooved quarterhorse with the gait of a jackhammer, it gets tiring.

To be fair, it gets tiring for the horse as well. The cinch is adjusted and readjusted, the sweat rolls, the dust blows and he has sneezing fits that shake his whole body - flies everywhere - and, occasionally, that dirty look at me when I step up wondering when I am going to work on my winter fat issues. 

Long story short, by mid-ride, we are both panting, sweating, aching and really feeling the drain. But the tasks are not done, all the strays have not been cornered and pushed back and all the fence has not been checked and repaired as needed. But we keep going and remind ourselves the day isn't forever and the barn awaits with fresh hay and water in the end. So we find the strength to keep going. But after the barn ... then what? 

In life, I sometimes need to be reminded this earthly life is not forever either, and at the end of my trail the barn awaits. All I know is that God promises fresh feed and fresh water. After that - then what? 

I take Doc to his paddock, rub him down, give him fresh feed and water, but the next day I have new adventures for him. It seems to me the barn is the recovery area, not the final stop. What is the future after the "barn?" God has not told us, although some believe He has sent us hints.  

Jesus spoke of paradise - which is from the Persian word for "garden" or "park" - in his parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16: 19 -31) as where the righteous await the Resurrection of the Dead. Every Jew understood that one went to paradise - like Lazarus - or Gehenna - like the Rich Man - at death until the final judgment. But then what? It seems the evil folk are obliterated in the end and cease to exist, but what of the righteous? While the scripture is vague at this point (TMI), it does seem "the barn" is not the end of the trail, but the beginning of a new one.  

I don't know, so my focus is on the barn itself. That's all I need to know at this point - that it is there and I am heading for it. Doc has no idea what lies ahead tomorrow, but after a long and hard day, when he smells and sees the barn he is content. His energy and stamina are increased and the worn out old cayuse is filled with life again. He has to get to the barn to be re-energized, but I, knowing it is over the next ridge, am already feeling the flow.  

Even if you have not yet seen the finish line of this race - the barn - if you know it is there your faith and energy reserves kick in and you keep running those last miles with determination and "run to win." What comes after is not the focus. Head for the barn and "shalom" - which in Hebrew means both "peace" and "be whole."

Be blessed and be a blessing.

Brother John  

--

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].