Cow Chip Classic

         

What’s Classic About Cow Chips? 

When I shook Jeremy Bennett’s hand in church, I glanced down at his bright red shirt and read: “Cow Chip Classic, 2006.” Don’t get me wrong. I was not a bit upset that Jeremy wore that particular shirt. I was thrilled he chose to spend his Sunday morning worshiping God and fellowshipping with other believers, regardless of what he chose to wear. Besides, it gave me an opportunity to find out what a Cow Chip Classic is…

            As a city transplant, I envisioned guys out in a field throwing cow chips like discuses at a track meet. The one who threw the farthest got a prize, like a new milking stool or a branding iron. Is that how it was? I asked Jeremy.

            “No,” he said, smiling politely. “We just raced across the field, dodging cow chips along the way.”

            I wrinkled my nose as I asked, almost afraid to discover, “Did you step in any?”    “A few,” he answered, still smiling. 

Too Much Like Real Life 

            I smiled back at him, but I couldn’t help thinking: Why would anyone want to run through a field of cow chips? That’s way too much like real life!

            A few days on this earth are sunny and bright. The chickadees sing sweetly in the peach trees, the smell of new mown hay tickles your nose as you drive down the highway, and the price of gas is lower than last week. No cow chips in your field. But most days are like this…

            It’s raining again, all the chickadees in all the peach trees are either pouting or scrapping with each other, the only smell as you drive down the highway is a dead skunk, and gas prices are up again. Your field is full of those darn cow chips. You can’t help but step on a few.

            Life stinks sometimes. No matter how deftly you dodge between the cow chips, you cannot avoid them all, and by the time you hit seventy, eighty or even as young as fifty, you’re messed up and dirty.  

Told you So 

            Jesus predicted as much when He told His followers, “In the world you will have tribulation (John 16:33).”  To His credit, though, He didn’t stop with there, or we may have said, “Thanks a lot, Lord. Tell me something I don’t already know.” His next words add a fragrant scent to our smelly situations: “But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” The Amplified version says, “I have deprived it of power to harm you.” Wow.      

No matter how many times you’ve tripped or fallen in those cow pies, no matter how stinky your life has become, there is hope for you. If you trust in Jesus and His amazing promises, all the cow chips in the world cannot permanently harm you. He has deprived them of their power over you. He has overcome the world. For you!

            My word for that kind of love? Classic.  

The above is an excerpt from my book, Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top, recently #10 on Amazon in the Christian Humor/Family/Parenting category. I'm proud of Jesus for putting it there.  

...I will be taking a break for the next week, speaking three times and working on a new book. See you soon! I love you all,