Lessons from the Rodeo

I love rodeo time!  Whether it's hanging out with the horses, visiting the barns or going to the rodeo and concert, I just can't get enough of it.  Each year, I serve in Cowboy Church as a volunteer. Throughout the rodeo, we get to visit with people, pray with them, and just be there to listen.

A ton of student tours invaded the rodeo this past week.  One morning, I happened to be volunteering when quite a few student tours came through our tent.  We welcomed them and told them about Cowboy Church and how we like to pray for people.  Then I asked "Can we pray for you?"  Dozens of hands shot up!  As my fellow volunteers and I walked around, handing out prayer cards and pens, I couldn't have been more excited at their eagerness.  Yes, they wanted prayer and they weren't afraid to say so.  On top of that, they were honest. Really honest.  Some lived in fear.  Some experienced sadness.  Some horrific loss.  Many broken homes. A good number of these children had very hard lives. Yet, the smiles on their faces showed their happiness for being at the rodeo that day.

I was really touched by serving those children that day.  I loved their humility. Jesus says that we must "become as little children."  What did he mean?  Jesus was speaking about humility. "Whoever humbles himself as a little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:2-4) Great-ness in the kingdom was not based on great works, a certain position in a company, making lots of money or talking with eloquence.  Greatness was childlike humility of spirit.

 

As we grow into adults, we sadly lose that childlike spirit.  We realize we can't trust everyone. Some even begin to doubt God, because they've seen pain and loss up close and personal.  Others look for ways to hide their true self.  We get caught in the adult trap and miss the beauty of a child.  We miss being ourselves.  Free. Simple. Honest.  Without guile.  

Did you know that the most influential and inspiring people are often marked by humility?  Maybe it's time you took a risk.  Risk sharing yourself with someone. Ask for prayer.  Share what's really going on.  I saw kids at the rodeo do this.
They could teach us adults a thing or two.

"Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them.  Then he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.  So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:2-4

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.