This essay was
originally published in American Cowboy Magazine’s November/December 2004
edition under the heading, “Wanted: Real Cowboys.”
Why
does America still need the cowboy? We
need him because we need to be reminded that pure contentment is not found in a
corner office, a ridiculous collection of
high-tech toys, platinum frequent
flyer status, and a blue-chip portfolio.
It can still be found while feeling the rippling power of a good horse
between your legs. It can be found while
facing a stiff west wind and squinting into the afternoon sun under a big
sky. It can be found when all of your
possessions can fit into a battered toolbox, the rusting bed of an old pickup,
and a mud-splattered horse trailer. It
can be found in the awakening aroma and the jolting impact of strong coffee
that was boiled in a tin pot over a mesquite wood fire. It can be found in rising early, riding hard,
ending sore, eating well, and sleeping sound.
Why
does America still need the cowboy? We
need him because we need men on whom you can count. We need men who take pride in their work and
who will “ride for the brand.” We need
men who will talk less, listen more and learn well. We need men who will reach out to help;
whether it is a calf struggling through a difficult birth or a “pardner” down
on his luck. We need men who know that
courage is being afraid and still making the ride. We need men who are strong, quiet and
confident enough that they can be trusted by a horse or a dog. We need men who know the worth of grass, dirt
and water. We need men who understand
just how dependent we are on the God who made all of that.
Right
now, there is unscouted ground up ahead.
There are going to be some stormy nights with a restless herd. Rivers will be at flood stage. Every canyon wall will threaten an
ambush. The tenderfoot is going to head
back down the trail. Tough choices must
be made before we break camp every day.
Once we ride out, there can be no quit.
Why
do we still need the cowboy? We need him
because the times demand it. It is time
to “cowboy up.”
Copyright © 2009 Wayne Bristow
Thank you Wayne for posting this. I knew something was up with this book when on three separate occasions I picked it up and within one or two pages had to put it down. The Lord just did not want me to read it.
Posted by: Gerald Larsh | October 06, 2009 at 03:20 PM