Out Our Way: Riding Drag

1 Corinthians 15:9-11 "I am the least of the Apostles ..."

Out our way, the term "drag" has a meaning that most of the rest of the nation does not understand. Once, the term "drag" tended to be about cars in "drag races" Nowadays, in this pop culture, it tends to refer to men dressed as women marching in parades or going into classrooms to read to little kids. So you can imagine the looks I get when I tell folks I used to ride drag. 

But as many of you know, when driving a herd you have someone riding "point" (up front and guiding the herd), usually a few riding "swing" ( to the side and keeping the herd together), and the least experienced or simply least useful hand riding "drag" - behind the herd, eating dust, and pushing them forward. That was always me, riding drag. 

To be honest, I didn't mind. My horsemanship is, let's say, a bit less than solid. As someone once said of his own performance  "I was never bucked off, but I had some spectacular dismounts." But like most little kids of my era, I always wanted to be a cowboy- and as lousy as I was and am, even riding drag was exciting and fulfilling. I might always "ride drag," but at least I was riding, working cows, and was part of a crew of the real deal cowpokes.  

I sometimes get a bit discouraged in my discipleship because I realize what a lousy follower of Christ I often am. I am often judgmental, impatient with others, arrogant, and just a jerk. This is not the Way. When I retired as a pastor I was largely ignored by former parishioners and when I volunteered to help out at churches I once served, I was rejected. I don't ride point in the Church - I ride drag. And you know what? That is a good thing!

The Apostle Paul had an ego bigger than the Mediterranean Sea in the beginning, but constant rejection, persecution, imprisonment and illness did quite a job in humbling him. It was while under arrest that he wrote most of the epistles - and in them he often confesses that God needed him to "ride drag."    

I take heart from Paul's admission that he too "rode drag," accepting that I am the "least of Christ's followers" on the one hand, and rejoicing that nevertheless, I am still counted as one by the Lord. Maybe my small and insignificant attempts to serve are indeed minor, but at least I am one of the "Boss's crew." I am not called to ride point or even swing - I am in the back, eating dust as the least skilled and useful cowhand - but I ride drag and rejoice that I am nevertheless part of the roundup.

Be blessed and be a blessing.

Brother (hack, cough!) 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].