Follow the Cowboy!

I am sending an angel ahead of you, who will protect you as you travel. He will lead you to the place I have prepared (Exodus 30:20).

One staple of classic Westerns is the long, dangerous journey.  It might be a covered wagon traveling across the prairie in search of a place to settle and raise a family.  It might be a group of cowboys riding herd on a cattle drive.  It might be grizzled prospectors heading towards the foothills in search of a gold strike.

Whatever their reasons, these sunburned travelers were in search of a dream.  Settlers purchased far off land on a promise, sight unseen—it was not until journey’s end that they finally saw the place which they would call home.  Others headed west because of the gold rush, having nothing but hope that upon arrival they would actually strike it rich. 

These long treks through unforgiving wilderness were fraught with danger—hostile natives and ruthless bandits, prairie wildfires and extreme weather conditions, not to mention wild animals and the risk of getting lost and running short of food and water.  Many of these travelers were not prepared for the hardships of such a trip.  At least cowboys understood the risks associated with cattle drives and prepared accordingly, although their work was no less dangerous.

We are on a dangerous journey, too.  We are traveling towards a place we’ve never seen, a watering hole where we can strike it rich and make our home.  We are on the way to paradise; our goal is nothing less than heaven itself.  Our journey is through life here on earth—a magnificent, beautiful territory, but a place that is overwhelming and confusing and filled with danger.  There are hostile natives and demonic forces who want to hurt us, take advantage of us, leave us bleeding in the dust.  There is the risk of getting lost and never finding the Promised Land.  And there is a danger of collapsing from starvation and dehydration, our souls hungry and thirsty for hope and purpose.

Praise God for sending Jesus to be our guide!  He has walked the path through life to heaven, and knows the best route to get us there.  He has the strength to defend us from every deadly attack that would keep us from reaching our goal.  He nourishes us with His Word and the Sacraments so that we don’t weaken and collapse during the harshest parts of the journey.  Jesus is the ultimate cowboy, who brings home safely all who are under His watchful care.