Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” – John 1:50

Our Old West trip has continued with God’s blessings along the way. We have passed through Wyoming stopping to see the town of Lead, where the greatest amount of Gold has been mined in the US. The gold mining has long since stopped leaving a huge hole with the town hanging on the precipice.

From there traveling the byways cutting through amazing rock formations mountains and lush green plains it’s not hard to imagine Indian camps and settlers struggling over and through these impassable barriers.

In Montana visiting the Little Big Horn and being educated on Custer’s Last Stand. A story that drips with the raw brutality of the Old West and a testament to the downfall of man driven by ego and pride. Then a day spent exploring the Big Horn River and parklands.

Then on to Montana’s Big Sky territory and settling into a stay at a vintage western Dude Ranch. Hiking, fishing and horseback riding through the Montana mountains just north of Yellowstone Park. We were being transformed into Cowpokes.

While at the Dude Ranch, a family mentioned they were going back north to see the Livingston Roundup Rodeo going on from July 2^ndto the 4^th. It has a long and colorful history, dating back to the Roaring 20s. We thought, Why not get the full cowboy experience?

This would be our first rodeo!

It made me think back to the first time I heard a particular phrase. I was trying to explain something to someone who knew more about what I was explaining than I did. He cut me off saying, “This ain’t my first Rodeo!” In other words. I’ve been here before and I know all about it.

We drove up to Livingston not knowing exactly where we were headed and if there would even be any tickets available. It was opening night and it was cold and rainy. As we were driving up to the venue we prayed a little prayer for God’s favor and guidance.

We pulled up and asked the parking attendant if he thought there’d be any tickets and he rolled his eyes and shook his head. Still, we parked and just as we walked in totally overwhelmed by the unfamiliar attack on our senses, a young lady asked us if we wanted 2 tickets for the ticket price. The lord sent angel Kaitlyn with our tickets.

The skies cleared and we then sat down with her and her party. Kaitlyn included us and coached us through the whole evening of riding and roping. It was a hoot! Being July 2^nd the rodeo concluded with patriotic music and awesome fireworks. A fantastic old western, Independence Day experience!

While this was literally our first Rodeo, I thought of it in spiritual terms and it was just another (seemingly inconsequential) step in praying and trusting in God for the little things as well as the big things. God has kept showing up and providing all along for us this trip. With regards to expecting God to show up, this “Was not our first Rodeo!”

Jesus’ teaching regarding faith being like a mustard seed is that it’s about the DNA of something small growing into something very big. Trusting and believing in God for little things – God responding – and then believing in God for even greater things.

I believe that God would be totally blessed if when someone asks us to pray for some seemingly impossible thing that we would turn to them and say (perhaps in a cowboy drawl),

“Hey, this ain’t my first rodeo! I done seen it before and expect it agin!”

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Postscript:

Now, in Estes Park, Colorado. Once again their annual Rooftop Rodeo just happened to be in town during our stay. So, we attended our second rodeo last night. I went to the ticket counter and the gal asked me, “Is this your first rodeo?” What a perfect setup!

I had to smile, “No Ma’am, this ain’t my first rodeo!”

Next, we’re on to Idaho and back into Wyoming for Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.