“In the same way that You gave Me a mission in the world,
I give them a mission in the world…
Then the world might believe that You, in fact, sent Me.”
John 17:18, 21b
Two weeks after college graduation, Hiram and I moved to cowboy country. The locals were an assortment of tobacco-chewing, and in some cases, toothless people who wore western shirts, boot cut Levis, cowboy boots, and hats to the country-western jamborees, square dances, and rodeos they considered top drawer entertainment.
It was a different world. The town was overgrown with weeds. Every street was gravel, every vehicle was a truck, and every truck was called an “outfit.” As owners of a VW Beetle, preppy dressers, and regular church-goers, we stuck out like a couple of sore thumbs. The Corner Bar betting pool said we might last six months.
We stayed seven years. At first, the economic downturn of the late 1970s kept us there. But slowly, the people became dear to us though we never felt entirely comfortable in their world. We never bought cowboy boots, but we attended the county fair and rodeos. We didn’t drive a four-wheel drive outfit, but Hiram went on trail rides and I joined the Extension Club. We weren’t country-western fans, but we took square dance lessons. Somehow, even though we dressed funny, didn’t chew tobacco, and attended church on Sunday, we forged strong friendships. When our very sick son was born in 1982, the people supported us and watched our faith sustain us. Through it all, we had no idea this cowboy world could be a mission from God.
Over two decades later, I understand that their cowboy world was and still is exactly that. When two old friends lost teen-aged and young adult sons I started sending cards to the families every few months. I thank them for their kindness when our baby was sick and share memories of their boys. I promise to pray to the God who lost His Son, to ask Him to sustain and comfort them. Writing the letters is emotionally exhausting. My words are often heavy with grief. But the letters are the heartbridge God has provided for sharing the gospel of Christ.
The cowboy world is not comfortable for us. We’ve never really been part of it, but we remain in it because the people are so dear to us. They’re worth a little two-world tension. After all, they are our precious mission from God.
