–Ernest Haycox  (Grim Canyon)

 

Brrrr, Pard, the ol’ starter gets harder to start as it is, don’t need the cold a drivin’ at my bones.  I can remember some cold nights around a campfire and even colder mornin’s.  One time, over on the South Llano, we were campin’.  It got down to 19 degrees.  Now my sleepin’ bags at the time were good to around 28 degrees; needless to say, it was cold when I lumbered out of bed in the mornin’ to get the fire goin’ and the coffee started.  Shiverin’ now just thinkin’ of it.

       I see yuh made it out this mornin’.  Cold again…but I’ve got the coffee on and it’s plenty hot and strong.  Made plenty of soups this week, and a pot of chili verde the other night.  Those sure helped to keep the innards warm.  Go ‘head, drink it up, there’s plenty in the pot.  We might as well finish it all up ‘fore goin’ back out in the cold.  Hmmm, endless cycle–cold, then come in for coffee, the back out in the cold, then more coffee.  Why just the traipsin’ back and forth helps keep a body warm.

       Thinkin’ ’bout the cold brought to my mind a thought of those out there who are really sufferin’ from the cold; a cold of a different sort–coldness of the heart.  There’s cold heart among spouses, cold hearts against former friends, cold hearts with family members, but the worsest sort of cold heart is that against the Lord.  I recall that the good Lord said that because of the increase of wickedness the love of many will grow cold.  Pard, I think that’s in Matthew 24.  Aren’t we seein’ that ’round us today?  Folks could care less ’bout what the Bible says, or they want to be givin’ their own opinion of it rather than acceptin’ it as the Lord intended.  

       Pard, as that coffee warmed up yur gizzard, be sure an’ get in the Bible to keep yur soul warmed.  Might even have to stir the coals some to get the flame a-goin’, but yuh sure don’t want to let it grow cold.  Why, Pard, a cold campfire ain’t no good to no one!  A body can’t get warm, can’t get the water to boil for coffee–a cold, dead campfire is good for nothin’ but to tell someone that there used to be one there.

       Yuh, be havin’ a good Sunday tomorrow, let the flame of the Holy Spirit warm up that spirit within yuh.  Stay on the right trail, be wary of hostiles, guard the truth so be sure yur guns are loaded and ready, for the mercies’ sake Pard, check that cinch ‘fore yuh mount up.

        Vaya con Dios.

                     –Chris Bennett  (Sedition)

 

Mornin’ to yuh, Pard.  Yuh got yur longhandles on?  Sorta shake my head at the notion, but I remember when we used to ride that north country.  Why, we wore them all the time through the winter.  Don’t even own a pair anymore, but lookin’ at what the weather seers are sayin’ I might be needin’ them.  Not only that, my ol’ body thermostat don’t work so well anymore; I get cold quicker and stay that way longer.  I’ve heard of some folk havin’ ice water in their veins, but I’ll be having a spa right now.

      If’n the electricity goes out, I’ll just find another blanket.  Went and purchased a two-burner camp stove, just in case; that way I can keep the coffee on.  A couple of years ago we were without electricity for a day or so, and the kitchen and dinin’ room flooded because of the hot water heater.  Not expectin’ no troubles this time like that.  

     Pard, I had somethin’ profound to be speakin’ at yuh this mornin’, but plum forgot what it was.  That happens from time to time nowadays.  At least I remembered to get the coffee on.  Made some from a roaster called “Abeantogo.”  How ’bout that for a handle?  It was taken from that youngster who faced the fiery furnace back in ol’ ‘Nezzar’s day.  Mighty tasty coffee.  Hot coffee–sure is good on a day like today, an’ expect to be makin’ several pots over the next week.

     Yuh know, it’s one thing to sit by the fire and listen to that cold north wind a howlin’ in the trees.  It’s shore another thing to be out in it.  The chilly fingers of freezin’ temperatures will slowly strangle the warmth out of the body.  Why I remember the times I was so cold that my bones actually hurt, especially in the finger and toes.  Makes me think of all those “cold” souls out there walkin’ around when they could be warmed by the “fire” of the Holy Spirit.  There’s a reason that fire is one of His symbols for it is the Fire that brings soothin’ warmth to the cold spirit, similar to that hot cup of coffee yur a-holdin’ in yur hands. 

     Pard, stay warm as yuh can, don’t take no unnecessary trips.  Be sure and warm up yur hoss’s bridle and tighten that cinch.

     Vaya con Dios.

 

“Oh, the wayward wind is a restless wind…ohhhh,…”  Mornin’ to yuh Pard.  Man, I haven’t seen yuh since last year.  Hmmm, added a few pounds to yur girth did yuh?  Well, let me tell yuh I have diet coffee jist waitin’ for yuh.  Yep, no sugar, no honey, nothin’ sweet ‘ceptin’ my smile.  Jist the hot, strong, black brew of coffee.  Ha, fact is, I’ve never heard of “diet coffee” but who knows.

       I’ve been sittin’ here, philosophyzin’ while waitin’ for yuh to show up.  With the new year upon us, I wonder which way the wind will blow.  Most likely there’ll be some hard blasts that’ll show up this year, but mostly it’ll be a breeze rustlin’ through the tops of the trees.  Go ahead, drink that brew whilst I talk.  Yuh know that there’s plenty of folk out there jist wanderin’ like that restless wind.  They have no clue as to purpose or eternity.  They go where the wind blows them, whim by whim.  They listen to the lies of the media, graspin’ for hope that is eludin’.

       ‘Cuse me a minute while I take a swaller or two.  Ahh, got to wet the tonsils and make the innards smile.  Now, back to what I was a-sayin’, there is another wind.  A mysterious wind.   We don’t know where it comes from ‘cept from the portals of glory.  This winds moves throughout the earth, blowin’ this way and that, touchin’ whomever.  We don’t know where that wind is goin’ either, ‘cept back to the place from when it came–heaven.  Pard, we need to move along with that “wind” for it is the Holy Spirit leadin’ us.

       Now, I’m no scholar, so let me give it to yuh straight from that long ago wanderer, “The wind blows wherever it pleases.  You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is goin’.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8, NIV).  Pard, let the wind blow yuh where He pleases this year.  Don’t yuh be tryin’ to ride against the wind, for that’s futile.  

       Yep, Pard, let that wind, blow the aroma of fresh coffee to yur nostrils, take a drink, but don’t linger if the wind is tryin’ to move yuh along.  Right now, let’s finish this pot, so’s we can get goin’ with the obligations of the day.  Pard, with those added pounds to yur girth, be sure and check that cinch for if’n yuh fall the landin’ will be a sight harder.

        Vaya con Dios.

                    –Vivian Sinclair  (A Western Christmas)

 

Pard, things are movin’ fast.  The end of the year is fastly approachin’, Christmas is comin’ upon us fast, time and age seems to be hittin’ us at a faster rate.  The only thing that doesn’t seem to be any faster is the time it takes for this coffee to perk and yur waddlin’ across the kitchen to get yur cup.  However, the way yur guzzlin’ it down, I’ll soon have to be makin’ another pot.

       I’m not even lookin’ at the next year yet.  That’s one thing about bein’ retired, I don’t have to live by a calendar, ‘ceptin’ for doctor’s appointments.  Boy howdy, Pard, they get yuh comin’ and goin’.  Maybe not a monthly calendar, but I do try to keep a daily list of things to be a-doin’.  Don’t usually get them all done, but they’re there in front of me for the next day.  Pard, we, even in our later years need to be plannin’ ahead knowin’ that each day is in the Lord’s hands.  Somedays the starter’s gettin’ harder to start, but I’m still up most days by 5:30 to make the coffee and send out a greetin’.  

       This mornin’ ‘fore yuh showed up the words of that song written by that ol’ puncher R.W. Hampton came to my mind.  “No it’s not the cold wind I’m thinking about a baby boy and a long long ago Christmas night.”  Was it cold that Christmas so many years ago?  Did the wind moan through the trees, or was it still, almost too quiet, waitin’ for the angels to burst forth in chorus?  Were the shepherds dozin’ on their watch?  Were the wise men havin’ trouble with their camels on their trek from the East?  Did Joseph have to build a small fire in the stable to keep Mary and the baby Jesus warm, or was the night warm and muggy?  Hmpf, one thing I doubt they had an’ that was a pot of coffee.  From what I’m tolt it hadn’t been discovered yet.

       Sure nice to be home for Christmas.  “There’s no place like home for the holidays…”  Pard, since yuh done drunk up all the coffee, guess it’s time to be wrappin’ this up for this Saturday.  Shore glad yuh stopped by an’ don’t be frettin’ ’bout time catchin’ up with yuh, that’s a certainty.  Yuh can’t outrun it, yuh just have to be ready for when it does.  Walk hand-in-hand with the Lord, have a joyous week before Christmas, an’ as always, don’t forget to check yur cinch.

         Vaya con Dios.