The Hermitage
December 18, 2019
I was working on another posting (mostly head-tripy sort of stuff.) I got tired and settled in with Tito JaBear in my lap to watch a movie on Amazon Prime.
I was roaming through all kinds of opportunities to participate in mayhem and violence when I happened on “Nail 32.” It’s the story of Jasper “Buck” Livingston who founded the Cowboy Church.
At the close of the movie, his wife in real life, Ruth, gives a eulogy about her husband’s life. The central message is, he was a man who used whatever he had to bring someone to Christ...his humor, his horsemanship, his artistic ability, and — most of all — his love of people. She closes by saying, “He would want you to use whatever you have at hand. Your talents won’t be his, but if you use them we’ll win the world one person at a time.”
Reminds me of the blog I wrote about the sermon preached by Jason Brown, a local pastor, on Moses’ staff — “What’s in your hand?”
As incredible as Buck Livingston was, the real hero in the story — for me at least — is Red, who owns a saloon and encourages Buck on the start of his Christian journey.
Buck comes to him and says he wants to “make a difference.” So Red asks him, “How much would you charge me to shoe my horse?” Buck replies, “I guess $20.” Red says, “What if I gave you a penny a nail?” When Buck responds he’ll stay with the $20, Red hands him a pad and has him start doubling the penny. 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32…. Realizing this is going to end well past his $20, Buck sheepishly asks, “Can I change my answer?”
By the time you double that penny for every nail — it takes 32 nails to shoe a horse — it comes to over..to over…
I’ll let you do the math.
Buck gets the honor in the film, and indeed it’s an incredible legacy. Cowboy Church signs are on the outskirts of many, many Texas towns, and who knows where else. There’s even one in Bulverde, even though ranches are rapidly disappearing around here.
But the Cowboy Church actually had its genesis with another man. Nail 1 of the 32 nails was driven by Red. He used what he had at hand...a bar and a love of God. No one made a movie about him. If I hadn’t seen the movie I would never have known his name. And I still don’t remember his last name...just Red.
As I reach these Autumn years of my life, I find it very comforting to know that God has not required my legacy to have notoriety. As a matter of fact, he requires it of very few. The Church Militant today is the legacy of millions of unsung Christians who have used “what’s in their hand.”
The second part of this story is affirmation of that reality.
I had HEB deliver my groceries today, and when I tipped the lady who brought them she said, “Thank you. This will go into my ministry fund.”
Well, you certainly know my next question. Turns out she’s the daughter (and granddaughter, and great granddaughter) of a missionary. She and her family have a business keeping medical equipment updated, but every Sunday they travel downtown to join a small congregation who worship at the DoSeum. After church they minister to the homeless under the bridge in San Antonio. Literally...under the bridge.
I may be wrong, but I doubt her name will ever make headlines. I know her simply as ‘Joyce’ from the handwritten note of blessing she left in the bottom of my grocery sack.
Today, through her, I was reminded of God’s presence. And each Sunday, through her, another homeless soul is blessed by a little food and a lot of love.
Nail 32
Till then…
Thanks for yonderin’ with me
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The closing song is “Cowboy Up” by Holly Spears. You can find it on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, and probably any of the other music channels. It’s worth a listen. (Be sure to get Holly’s version. There are a lot of others by the same name with different lyrics.)