'Twas on a Sunday morning when an old cowhand...
entered a church before the service began.
Though the clothes he wore were washed and clean,
was a denim gray shirt with ragged blue jeans.
His boots were scarred from a constant wear,
and a cowboy hat.. in his hand was there....
with sweat-stained traces on that old hat band,
proved his calling to the cattle land.
He also clutched in a proudly way,
a small worn bible with it's cover frayed.
Now, the church he entered was "top of the heap",
the highest of high of the members they keep;
attracting the rich, the righteous in kind,
the best of the city, the elite of the time.
The cowboy gazed in wondrous awe
at the most beautiful church he ever saw;
with members decked-out in expensive clothes,
now seated in reverence in the church-pew rows.
Well, the cowboy came and took his seat,
no smile, or greeting from the proud elite!
Instead they moved to another row...
from the lanky old cowboy they did not know.
They seemed appalled at the stranger's dress,
and showed no caring in their fast egress.
Now the preacher stood at the pulpit stand,
and in fire and brimstone way... began.
He preached on heaven and hell's dooms day,
and rewards for all whom come to pray.
And lectured on how much money they need
for the church to do God's work indeed!
And money was the most-main topic theme
for all goodwill to perk and gleam.
When the old cowboy was leaving that day,
the preacher came forth with this to say:
"before you come our way again,
have a little talk with God my friend;
and ask what's the best attire to wear
upon your coming visits here."
So the cowboy said: "I will indeed,
you can surely depend on me,
I'll come again next time you'll see,
I'll be neat as I can be!"
Well, Sunday, and the cowboy came alright,
but came again as the same old sight;
the same old ragged clothes he wore,
and as before was shunned and floored
with no respect to this "cowpoke".
Then the preacher to the cowboy spoke:
"you said you'd speak to God my man
before you came to church again,
about your clothes and all."
"I did indeed the cowboy drawled,
but the preacher starts to press;
" Did God attest what clothes were best
in attending service here?"
The cowboy said while in his prayer:
"When I asked God what clothes to wear..
God told me and nothing more":
" I have no clue, to give to you,
I've never seen that church before,
nor entered in, through it's door!!
William E.Hardison
http://members.cox.net/food-for-thought3/
billwilly1@cox.net
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