John grew up in Archer City, Texas, home to 1300 souls
within thirty miles of the Oklahoma border. Now in his mid-twenties, he counts
himself lucky. He has found a full time job doing what he loves. Many of his
contemporaries have settled for day work or make their living in other fields.
Regardless, these men and women live to be in the saddle. Some of John’s
happiest memories have occurred while riding on a quality horse, watching the
antics of the calves intermingling with their mothers. Humbled by the handiwork
of God, he never tires of the beauty of these moments, especially at daybreak. “I
see God every day.” John said. When asked if his belief is unique, he answered,
“most cowboys have a similar viewpoint. We all struggle with our faith,
nobody’s perfect, and His presence is felt more closely by some over others,
but for every cowboy, it’s there. It’s hard to say, can’t speak for others, but
its there for all of us.”
When challenging, dangerous stuff happen and men survive,
John’s faith in God is deepened. The rugged, sometimes unforgiving land is
filled with poisonous snakes, drought, and the aggressiveness of steers. At
times, situations of life and death happen without warning. Through it all,
John feels God looking out for him. “You realize how delicate life is, it can
be there and then taken away.” When a heifer struggles with the birth of her
calf and complications end her life, John knows life goes on. Her calf is alive
and needs to be feed from a bottle. Faith strengthens him and he isn’t the only
one.
John Riggs, host of Authentic Cowboy TV show, is a cowboy
and a preacher. He says “You can’t work this kind of country and see all that
has been created and not know there is a God in heaven.” He goes on to say that
cowboys are men of valor. They may not like each other, but they have each
other’s back. Their shared passion is for the wide-open spaces, the
satisfaction of a job well done, the freedom of being in the saddle, and
finding God in the midst of His creation. Cowboys don’t claim to be perfect. In
fact, they readily admit their shortcomings. What makes them men of valor is
their unwritten code, their courage and their respect for others.
Casey Hoff, another Texan born young cowboy, is a ranch hand
for JS Bidwell, a workingman’s ranch outside of Archer City. He has loved every
minute of those seven years. He has experienced times when he needed God and
God showed up. Casey’s faith is the core of who he is. On one of his living
room walls, twenty crosses of different shapes and sizes hang as a reminder. In
a time when we see many young people fall away from the conviction of their
fathers, it is refreshing to witness faith in action. These young men live
their principles.
Cowboying is not a lucrative job, but this way of life suits
them. They are not in it for the money. Day after day, they spend long hours
with a great deal of responsibility and danger. But they would not have it any
other way. Their faith in God is interwoven into who they are and what they do.
Jesus is their wagon boss and they live this life for Him.
http://www.charlestonmercury.com/index.php/en/lifestyle/travel/388-witnessing-faith-cowboy-style
Texan cross found on Casey Hoff's living
room wall among 20 plus crosses
Photo taken at dawn by John Mullins