Out Our Way: Charlie's hat

Matthew 25:40-45 - "As you did it to the least of these ... so you did it for the least of these ... so you also did it unto Me."

Out of our way, we remember America is a nation of immigrants. Our ancestors hail from all over the globe. So while 100% American, it is not unusual to hear foreign songs from time to time. There is a German song I learned long ago, before I understood a word of German, called "Mein hut, der hat drei ecken"

Translation: "My hat has three corners." It is a nursery rhyme and the last phrase is: "and if it doesn't have three corners, then it is not my hat!"

This week I am having Charlie's hat refitted, but I told the guy to be sure not to change the tilt of the brim nor clean the places where the rain and snow stained it - because a cowboy's hat is his autobiography, it tells his story.

As some of you know, I inherited Charlie's hat. Charlie had taken a different horse with him on a local roundup and a dog popped out of the tall weeds and spooked Freckles. Freckles reared up, lost his balance and fell over on top of Charlie. It pretty well did Charlie in - and although he lived for a time after that, he had COPD that caught up to him. But before he died, he called me over and gave me his hat. As any cowhand will tell you, that is a tear-jerker.

Anyway, I proudly wear Charlie's hat - although it's big for me and I can't really fill it anymore than his boots - but the various stains, cuts, twists and turns of some 30-plus years of working cattle all show in it, and any rancher or cowhand who sees it can see at once this was worn by a real hand.

As discussed before, the world is in great need of real deal disciples, and as we saw last week with the dudes wearing chaps and spurs, outward appearances can be misleading. You can "look" the part without actually being the person you portray. Actors are a dime a dozen - real disciples are increasingly rare.

Jesus warned us of this. Read the whole section today's text is taken from. You have the disciples who simply do what is right, and the fakes who put on the show. Jesus looks "at their hats"... that is, looks at their lives. Fancy-looking hats are expensive and impressive to other tenderfeet and dudes, but they don't fool Jesus. Where are the signs of service, of caring, of reaching out even when it's hard to a neighbor or a stranger? The other side of the text is Jesus condemning the fancy-hatted "christians" who only pretend to be followers. The unstrained, un-sunbleached, un-rain-wrenched and un-wind-torn hats make it clear you never rode for the Boss. "As you did not do it for the least of these, you did not do it unto me!" What's your hat look like? Maybe I better go check the mirror!

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.