Dear Br. Frank:
Sometimes I wish I had been born in the last century, somewhere on the western frontier. There is something in me that yearns for the life-style of the cowboy. Yes, I laugh at the absurdity of the thought myself, but in my introspective moments, I yearn for the fresh open air, vast vistas of prairie or the rugged mountains of the West, the hard demanding life of the cow puncher, the camaraderie of tired men around the camp fire at night, the dangers, adventures, rugged beauty of the west and riding free in the saddle. (Free of what, I’m not sure.) I know much of this is nothing but romantic notions of former ages, yet, I think men as well as women can have romantic feelings, men just express theirs in a different way then women.
This thought is absurd, for supposing that I was born in that
era with the same talents and abilities I posses today, I would
not have gravitated to the life of a cow boy but to a small town
rural school teacher, banker, or shop keeper. I am more comfortable
and successful in front of a computer writing letters to men then
I am riding a horse or branding steers.
Several months ago, I was talking to a neighbor who built a rustic
cabin, complete with a water wheel and endeavored to live the
primitive life of a homesteader, complete with butchering his
own meat. I was repelled by the thought of slaughtering a cow,
cutting up the meat and hanging it in a smoke house. So much for
the romantic life of a cowboy.
But there is an element of the western frontier life that escapes
many men today and we would do well to recapture it in more civilized
ways. I am referring to the physical challenges that went with
that life-style. The life of a cow boy, if it was nothing else,
was physically demanding and required the cultivation of the rugged
masculine virtues of endurance, perseverance, practical usefulness,
independence, rugged individuality coupled with a need for others
to help get in the crops, a sense of neighborly companionship,
a moral code of well defined respect for women and children, chivalry
in the old fashioned sense of the word, a true understanding of
the difference between right and wrong and the sense of accomplishment
after a hard days work around the farm or on the trail.
Where is the challenge or something similar to what I just described
above when I sit in front of this computer and write letters,
albeit this is what the Lord has prepared me to do and do quite
well? But then there are challenges that are not recognized as
challenges but require just as much resourcefulness, hardihood,
and all of the other manly virtues that the cowboy, at least in
fiction, seemed to possess in abundance. I doubt that the reality
of the life of the frontier was anything like Zane Grey or Louis
L’Amore depict in their books.
The challenges we face today, as Christian men, may, in a sense,
be even greater then those faced by men a hundred and twenty years
ago on the frontier as they sought to carve out a life for themselves
and their families on the frontier while chasing away wolves,
Indians, coyotes, and desperadoes who desired to share what little
wealth the pioneer possessed without the necessity of working
for it.
I am referring to the challenge of maintaining a home and family
amidst the temptations and destructive forces that swirl all around
us.
For example, there was the situation of the old lady who lived
a mile from our house who simply vanished one afternoon within
half an hour. National guardsmen were called to search for her,
the sheriff’s department was called, dogs sniffed the area,
helicopters circled the woods and hundreds of the local citizens
searched the mountains to no avail. She was never found. One can
only image what evil befell her that afternoon.
It is no idle comment to say that Satan, as a roaring lion, is
walking about seeking whom he may destroy. Evil men, and now even
evil women, and evil spirits are on our tract every moment of
every day. Is this much different then the rancher who had to
maintain a constant vigilance against the predators of his day.
I am appalled at the careless disregard some parents have for
their children, leaving them unattended in cars, at home, in the
front yard or elsewhere, unsuspecting that some evil force is
watching its moment to snatch little Johnny away from his loving
and secure home into some unspeakably cruel existence.
Christian parents must be constantly on guard not just against
evil men but evil angels who are even more insidious in their
efforts to destroy us. If we are off our guard for only a moment,
we may suffer a lifetime of adverse consequences.
Would I still like to live on the frontier, Yes, but realistically,
I can never recapture that bygone era. Today has enough challenges
and dangers to keep a dozen cowboys happy and preoccupied.
Let us praise the Lord that we were born today and not yesterday,
for most assuredly we would have found that era more difficult
then the story books portray. We are nearing home, let us rejoice
that this old wicked world is about to pass into the history books
as a bad dream, something better forgotten then remembered, something
tragically out of place in the glories of our eternal home, a
mist, a vapor, a bad dream, a dark splotch on God’s glorious
creation.
There awaits those who remain faithful to the Lord throughout
the trials and temptations of this evil age, a most wonderful
home where all is light and where there are all the challenges
you or I could ever desire.
May the Lord bless you, your brother in Christ.
Allen A. Benson