Out Our Way: Of trails and fences - Isaiah 30 :21

"This is the way. Walk in it!"

Out our way, the open range is pretty much a thing of the past. Most cattle operations have fenced-in grazing lands and well-worn cattle trails. I can only guess how disappointing the modern realities are to greenhorns who want to see the "old West" Louie L'Amour wrote about. Some of us old timers are equally sad that the old days are gone and regret we never got to live them. Check out "This is the Last Cowboy Song" on Google.

I imagine a conversation between a young calf and the matriarch of the herd skimming about trails and fences. In his energetic youth he has run free across the vast grasslands, exploring hidden arroyos, climbing distant ridges, exploring cottonwood and thorn bush "jungles" where he can hide from Mama and his playmates. But he finds the herds don't wander hither and yon, but tend to stay on the trails that criss-cross the land. And then there are those barbed wire fences that limit his ability to just go wherever he likes. So he comes to Grandma and asks, "Why do we have trails and fences?"

He is young, inexperienced and naive. So Gran'ma tries to explain it to him. "We have trails that we have followed for generations because time and experience have taught us the shortest and best routes to follow. And the fences are there to keep you from becoming lost. Will you find water or good grazing in the lands you do not know? And remember as well, that the fences are not just to keep you safe within, but to keep dangers and destruction out."

Texas Tick fever in the old days wiped out thousands of cattle, and unvaccinated cattle, elk, deer and bison can infect whole herds with brucellosis and other diseases. The fence keeps them out. It also discourages predators. Wolves and grizzlies are largely gone nowadays although they are starting to wander out our way again. But even so, we still have coyotes and the occasional mountain lion. It may not stop them, but it slows them down.

In my years as a pastor, I have had young "dogies" ask why we have the 10 Commandments and the Gospel trail to follow. Nowadays, with the breakdown of tradition, culture and morality, those who follow "the ruler of this world" (John 14:30) reject the trails and fences established by the faithful and reject traditional values as merely "old-fashioned traditions that are out of touch with reality." They, like that young calf, want to reject the trails and fences established by generations going back to Abraham as meaningless. They are the modern serpent in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1). And many, like Adam and Eve found, will "bite."

"Leave the trails and break down the fences" is the new "wisdom." But starting with Genesis, study human history over the ages, and read today's newspaper, and you will see the lie is anything but new. Be it the serpent in the garden, or the latest celebrity, the message and the lie remains the same: "Reject the established and proven trail and tear down the fences that keep the Enemy at bay." And the gullible always fall for it.

The trail of wisdom and the fence of guidance were not given to us to diminish us or hold us back - but to guide us to fulfillment. This is the way! Walk in it!

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Brother John

--

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].