I always looked forward to the fall gathering in the Nevada high country. I would leave California in the middle of August when it was hot and dry and head up to the high desert where the days were still hot but the nights were cool. It was refreshing to think about riding up to about 6,000 feet where the grass was still green, the high lakes were blue, and the streams were still running full.
There would usually be approximately 450 pair to gather. It would take about two weeks to get all of the cattle down the mountain and into the corrals at the main ranch. Along with the pairs, there would be about 20 head of bulls to bring down as well. These were all black Angus bulls and for the most part they were all pretty compliant about coming along with the cows and calves as we made our way down into the valley. When we neared the corrals we would separate the bulls from the herd and move them into another holding field.
On this particular day the ranch foreman and I brought in a group of about 50 head. There were five bulls in this gather and we began separating them away from the cows. The foreman was punching the cows and calves into the corral and I was moving the bulls along the corrals to the holding field. I just about had them through the gate when one of the bulls bolted back toward the cows. Hustling to head him off, on a tired horse, wasn’t really a problem but every time I just about had him back with the other bulls he would whirl around and head back to the cows.
After the third trip running him down, I shook out a loop and roped him around the neck. Dallying up I began to drag him back to the gate. That great idea went well for about 20 feet. That big old heavy bull was tired too and he decided he was not going any farther. My good horse couldn’t pull any farther and I’m sure he was real proud of me for getting him into this situation.
In frustration, I hollered back to the foreman. “What am I supposed to do now?” His reply was simply, “Hold onto what ya got.” He quickly came to my aid and together we pulled the rope off of the bull, that was now laying down. With both of us whipping and yelling, he finally got up and went with the other bulls.
We all have faith to one degree or another. “The truth of God is known to all of us instinctively; God has put knowledge in our hearts. Since earliest times, men have seen the earth and the sky and all that God has made... so they will have no excuse when they stand before God on judgment day. (Rom 1:19,20) Look at the reality that God has displayed all around you and “hold on to what ya got.” As you practice your faith, He will help it to increase.
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