Out Our Way: Because Charlie said so

Matthew 7:14 - "For straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leads to life."

Out our way, when pushing the herd to new pasture, you aim for the gate that leads to it. There are many cattle trails that cross, but only one will take you to the gate. That's why Charlie rides point to show the way and I ride drag and sometimes swing to keep the herd moving and on the right trail. 

Now, as the new guy and tenderfoot herder, I didn't know the way on my own, so I relied on Charlie to guide me while I helped guide the herd. I was as lost as the youngest calf, but I trusted Charlie, and although I hadn't ever seen the gate, I pushed the cattle towards it by listening to and following Charlie. You might say it was "by faith" alone I urged the pairs and bulls forward, cut off those that started to wander a different trail and got them back on the right one.  

How did I know it was the right one? Because Charlie said so, and I trusted Charlie. And sure enough, a few hours later, eating dust, baking in the hot sun, and wiping the sweat off my face, we rode over a final ridge and saw green pasture and still waters and the promised gate ahead.  

As I mentioned before and many of you know, cattle country is covered with trails leading in many directions. Greenhorns and jughead cows may think all trails are equally good, but it depends where you want to go. Come fall round up, the winter pasture that has been lying fallow since spring and filled with lush grazing and refreshed reservoirs is where we need to get to - and only the trail that leads to the gate that opens onto the "green pastures and still waters" we need to survive and flourish will do. Many trails going in many directions, but only one leads to the gate.

As I said, I was a greenhorn drover and had never seen the gate. Yet I was called to push the herd and keep the strays from wandering onto other trails. How could I know the right trail? I couldn't. But I knew Charlie did. How did I know Charlie knew? Well there is an old saying out our way,  "You can't know a real cowhand until you see him ride." I rode with Charlie for six years on "the Tiger" and  "saw him ride." It wasn't just his horsemanship, but also his cow sense and clear knowledge of the area. He knew where the gate was and I believed him. I was not proven wrong. There is a reason Charlie is in the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame, because, over the years, he proved to be the real deal. 

The early disciples - and the present day ones - follow Jesus for the same reason. They watch Him and learn because they have seen He is the real deal. He knows the "trail" and where to find the gate. I don't know, but I have come to trust He does! So here I am, sweating, eating dust, burning in the sun, riding drag and swing while Christ rides point. And I intend to keep riding the trail He is leading me to follow for while I don't know where the gate is, I believe He does. 

There were many trails I could follow on "the Tiger" but I chose to follow the one "because Charlie said so." There are many trails in this life I can choose, but I choose to follow the one Christ said to follow. The way is straight and the gate is narrow, but it is the Way I will ride.

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 bruingtonjohn@gmail.com.