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Out Our Way: I ride for the brand 

 Now that Goliath and I are supposedly retired, it is fun to spend some time looking back over the trail we have traveled before we seek to ride off on the new one the Lord will show us.

 This week I have shut off the phone and stayed clear of most folks while I am on retreat, seeking what's next. I found this book called "Living in the Presence" by Tilden Edwards. Unfortunately, like many theologians of today he tends to use theological jargon to impress his peers, but if you can wade through some of the gobbledigook, there is some good stuff here.

 He offers a series of chapters with practical advice on how to live a more focused spiritual life. There are things like breathing exercises and how to find a really comfortable position for prayer so you won't be distracted by leg cramps and such. I plan to do a chapter or two a day while on retreat and in the quiet time of reflection, seeking guidance on where we go from here.

 Goliath sniffs at me and says, "Why go back to the stable of course, and get some oats." Yeah, I sort of agree with him; after all, 40 plus years of ministry takes its toll, as did 1 1/2 years supporting myself and the ministry at Walmart. Yes, the appeal of "the barn" and an easier life does sound good. But as I reminded Old Doc, even that will be temporary, for the Boss has made it clear that we aren't done yet. I recalled riding to the top of a ridge with Charlie up on the Tiger Ridge to try to move a big herd north to spring pasture. We were OK pushing them up the hill, but on the other side we found some 20 other trails leading in as many directions, and that herd just split up and followed 'em all! I kind of feel like that as I sit here atop "Retirement Ridge" and find multiple possible trails stretching out before us. Hence the need for this retreat. We sit for a time and try to decide which trail we need to follow.

 Of course - as Goliath will tell you - that depends primarily on where you are trying to go. There are a lot of false trails out there that only lead to barren and over-grazed winter pastures. Our task was to get them all on the trail heading to the good grazing lands, to get the ones wandering in the scrub to come back and take the trail to the "green pastures and still waters."

 Cows are not overly bright and when they scatter they have no idea where they are going, only that they are on the way. Like some sheep-brained celebrities and college professors, they think all movement is progress, even if it's in the wrong direction. That's why the cowboy has to get out there and help. They ALL think they are on the right trail because none of them really took the time to look where they were going. They just took off and followed the first turn they came to. Some lucked out and headed for the good pasture, but a lot of them ended up heading for the overgrazed scrub and the dried-out watering holes. It's the same with people.

 Old Doc and I heard a lot of protests and complaints from those cows who were headed to the empty pastureland, and as tempting as it would have been to just let them live and die with their foolishness, Charlie and I were hired by the boss to get the herd safe and sound to the good pasture. So we went after the dumb ones and "talked them into" changing course.  

 Despite their protests and complaints, we pushed them down the good trail and eventually they smelled the fresh grass and the cool waters and then took off on their own to get there. At that point, Charlie and I reined in and just grinned. Mission accomplished!  For over 40 years that is what I have been trying to do with the congregations I have served, showing them the good trail and trying to direct them onto it until they figured out this was where they had wanted to go all along. They just didn't know how to get there.

 Now that I am no longer the pastor at the church, it is time to let others help guide the folks to the good pastures that Christ calls them to enter. But I don't think my cowboying is limited to one specific herd. Up on "Retirement Ridge" I see many trails and a lot of pairs from a lot of different herds wandering away from the Way of goodness and mercy. And although I no longer ride for the Presbyterian Church, I still ride for the Brand, the Sign of the Cross. Latin, Orthodox, Celtic or whatever, we may ride different ranges but it is the same outfit and we all ride for the same brand. And now I will try to ride with them all through these articles, Facebook blogs, writing books and wherever else the Boss decides.

 Blessings to all in the New Year, and as they played for me after the benediction of my last service, "Happy Trails."

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Brother John and Goliath intend to stick around for the time being and hopefully continue to serve the Boss at the "Circle T."

 

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