Hopscotch and the Rancher’s Wife
My day started in the Word…my favorite place! I happened to be in Galatians 5 and had to halt and back track to this little gem, 5:4 “You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace.” What? This says that if someone is trying to be justified by keeping rules (the Hebrew law) they are instead separated from Jesus and they have fallen out of grace! Oh man…I can’t wait to unpack this one for you! This could be manna in the near future. Let’s keep moving on to the hopscotch for this week.
After my walk in the Word, I was called to do a few errands for my bearded brute and ended up in the local coffee shop for a cup of joe. While in there, a tiny little lady, about 60, who was dressed like your typical Montana rancher’s wife wearing jeans, a plaid shirt and a pair of Ariats, burst through the door. She was clearly excited about the manila envelope she was clutching in her hands and waving around. (Remember, I don’t know her, and the lady making coffee has only helped me a handful of times). The rancher’s wife grabs a chair in the little shop and tells us the exciting news…her European Vogue magazine just arrived! If you know me, you can imagine the look I must have had on my face (I will never play poker), complete and utter shock! This lady, as cute as she was, looked like she never wore a smattering of make-up even once in her life, and was dressed in the most ordinary of clothes with her dishwater brown hair pulled back in a low pony tail. She was so excited about this Vogue magazine she could hardly contain herself. She was bubbling over about the cost of that early bird edition that came as a gift because she wouldn’t pay the $98 fee she found on the internet. What? She wouldn’t pay $98 for a European Vogue magazine (I’m dripping with joyful sarcasm now)? I’m sure I looked like a deer in the headlights as I tried to understand her excitement. I listened as she told the barista and myself why this particular edition was so exciting, but I could see that the barista was lost in the same puzzle as me. I decided it was time to depart. I said a few pleasantries and the rancher’s wife quickly introduced herself and said goodbye as I walked out the door.
I hopped into my VW, put it in gear and thought about the scene the whole way home. I don’t think I could ever be that excited about a Vogue magazine, or any magazine for that matter. If only 10% of Christians were half that excited to tell others about their Bibles our world would be a different place!
I had a similar package waiting for me on the porch when I got home. When I pulled that card board zipper open I slid out a pretty new bible study workbook. A workbook I get to share with 3 other ladies. I’m actually more excited than the rancher’s wife with her Vogue. Maybe I should run back to the coffee shop and share my excitement like the rancher’s wife, it might be an excellent step toward sharing the Gospel here in my new town.