The dayworker cowboy: a cowboy that goes from ranch to ranch doing work for a day or two, but it could be longer. These cowboys will come and stay on until the roundup and the workin’ is done. Then, he will move on to the next ranch. The dayworker is often single without much holdin’ him to any specific place.
A dayworking cowboy has learned to tolerate known issues as he knows he won’t be around forever. By design, there is not a whole lot of stayin’ put in daywork. A dayworker gets to meet new people and see new places. He gets to see how others do it, though he may not always agree with the way some ranchers do things. But, guess what, he gets to move on in a day or ten anyhow. There’s always another place to work, and another rancher to work for.
One day he may be called to a place over west to help gather, sort, and ship wheat pasture calves and the next day he may be down south catching a wild cow that a local farmer can’t get to come or stay home.
And then he may be asked to catch some nine weight steers that have eluded the gatherin’ pen for too long. This will involve ropin’ ‘em and slide ‘em in a trailer the cowboy has rigged up for just such a purpose. This very often doesn’t take place without a hitch, as it is definitely an unpredictable adventure.
You have to pay attention and be on guard all the time because them cows are constantly lookin’ for a way to get out of what you’re tryin’ to get them to do. It’s a classic conflict. Part of a cowboy’s job is to out-think ‘em. If you don’t stay a step ahead of them, that’s when you’re gonna get hurt. And I can tell you from experience, “There are times when we just need to get out of them beeves way and re-group.” But it wouldn’t be much of a learning experience without the scars, the surgeries, and broken bones. Yep, catchin’ unpredictable cows over terrain you have never been on is not just a job — it’s an adventure!
But there is something to be said about the full-time hand! There’s the benefits: a side of beef, a pickup to drive, getting’ to run some of your own cows, a ranch house instead of a bunkhouse, a place to raise a family. And then there is just the overall security and stability of ridin’ for the brand.
And the boss doesn’t have to worry about a hand just up and leavin’ him right in the middle of the work! The fulltime cowboy is often times married and with a family. And they tend to become good friends with the boss and his family.
On God’s ranch (otherwise known as the local church) we all start out day workers. But His plan is for each of us to become full-timers.
Dayworkers tend to just go through the motions. They go to church unless they’ve got somethin’ else to do. They may put some spare change in offerin’ can, but they don’t really give to the the Boss’ work. They may carry a Bible to church but they don’t pick it up during the week. They don’t share Jesus, they let the preacher do it. And they do other things during the week that don’t honor the Boss.
The local church, sees the value of the dayworker. The Lord wants them to be fulltime hands! Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. 1 John 5:1,12 nasb
God takes non-committed ranch hands who are here today and gone tomorrow and shows them an eternal future. He calls us to ride full-time for His brand! How about you?
Choose Jesus, choose life and let your light shine! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! Tell others! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVE ST! And pray for rain!