Stephen Bly Down A Western Trail

Don't Gimlet Your Horse or Faith

September 29, 2022 Stephen Bly Season 4 Episode 15
Stephen Bly Down A Western Trail
Don't Gimlet Your Horse or Faith
Show Notes Transcript

WESTERN WISDOM  Season 4, Episode 015  "Don't Gimlet Your Horse or Faith" audio podcast by award-winning western author Stephen Bly. Sponsored by BlyBooks.com Legacy Series.  

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Gimleted Horse
Stephen Bly
Circa 1995 

In the Old West, one way you could measure the work and skill of a cowboy was by how well he took care of his horse. In those days, a horse was your job, your travel home, and your net worth. And your escape route. Also, many times your own companion.  

Most cowboys wouldn’t think much of a man who would, without cause, run down a horse. Sure, there were times to save your own life you would ask of your pony more than he could safely give. But that was the exception. No one wanted to face that.  

One sure sign of a tenderfoot or worthless cowhand was when he gimleted his horse. To gimlet is to ride it until its back is sore. On the big cattle drives, the cowboys avoided this by changing horses several times a day. And when traveling from one place to another on the same horse, they would most often ride a couple hours, climb off, loosen the cinch, and walk awhile, giving the horse a rest.  

That’s one complaint I have with a lot of western movies and television shows. You seldom see a cowboy climb down and give his horse a break. Although John Wayne does make that point in a dramatic scene in The Searchers. It just makes good sense to take special care of that which keeps you going.  

Now, the same thing’s true in the spiritual realm. It’s our faith that keeps us safe and guided and progressing toward the goal of life. So it makes a lot of sense if we take good care of our faith.  

Paul exhorts Timothy, “My son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected this and so have shipwrecked their faith.” (1 Timothy 1:18-20) 

Paul had in mind when he talked about ‘shipwrecked faith’ that it sort of looks like a gimleted horse—run down, misused, and of decreasing value because of neglect. Fortunately, we are told how we can take better care of our faith and help it stay healthy.  

Paul says in Romans, “Faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) 

Some folks who claim to have faith haven’t studied or read or memorized or heard the Word of God preached in months. Or years. Well, whatever faith they might possess I can tell you one thing, they’re gimleting it. That’s faith neglect. In my mind, it should be classified as a spiritual crime.