Shade Tree Wisdom 10/3/12

          Here are bits of advice from an old cowboy. You know, that old fashioned cowboy who worked the range 100 or so years ago lived a harsh life, in the saddle often from before light till after dark, mending fence, cleaning water holes, pulling cattle out of the mud, tending to blowflies and other infections.

          It was a rough life. Demanded energy, purpose, and honesty. Because usually there was no one around to check on his work which was often miles from the home ranch.

          In brief, the cowboy did what most of the early settlers in this country did, put forth honest effort, gave more than the minimum, wired till the work was done, and helped build a great nation.

          All this ought to remind us all what real life is. It has purpose, it has goals, it sees results, and offers satisfaction with the knowledge that one did one's best.

          And that is what the Christian life ought to be also, isn’t it?

          The Sermon on the mount in Matthew chapters 5 – 7 gives a sort of summary of how Christians are, and how blessed they are because they “hear His words and do them”.

          I ran across some “Old Cowboy’s Advice.” Here are several.
               “You cannot unsay a cruel word”
               “When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.”
               “Sometimes you get, sometimes you get got”.
               “Words that soak into your ears are whispered – not yelled.”
               “Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.”

          And this gem, stuck on the walls of an outhouse in a forgotten corner of Colorado.
               “Want what you have,
                And you’ll always
                Have what you want.”

          May God bless your day richly.

GPD 10/3/12