The Cowboy Path to Christ

The Cowboy Path to Christ Have you ever seen the image of a kneeling cowboy bowed reverently in front of a cross? It may be the paradox of the trait of humility in a free-spirited, powerful character of the untamed West; it may be the statement of truth that God is greater than the strongest and bravest among us; or it may be the image of an approachable, universal sense of peace that captured my attention. While cowboys and Christians aren’t obvious partners, they aren’t contrary roles either. 

Fr. Bryce Lungren, a Catholic priest from the diocese of Cheyenne , tells the story of his own pilgrimage to Christ in the mountains of Wyoming and Montana, interspersing his narrative with tons of wisdom and plentiful just plain fun(1). His heartfelt reflections are fascinating and beneficial for anyone but especially for those in their teens and twenties, who are navigating their path through life. He challenges us to pursue the cowboy traits of courage, confidence, perseverance, determination, mental toughness, gratitude, humility, teamwork, and sacrifice. 

He begins his tale with a vivid description of riding in a rodeo , rebelling against his own father’s advice. He concludes that episode with, “Jesus is a cowboy. He’s brave. He’s bold. But most of all, He’s a Son.” Sonship is a major theme throughout the book. He shares, “Part of the beauty of sonship is that the weight of the world does not weigh on our shoulders.” and “The greatest lesson in life I’ve learned is that of sonship. The more we live out of our hearts as beloved children of God the Father, the happier we will be.” 

He continues his story with challenges and trials he faced growing up, and ultimately, his own call to the priesthood. His down-to-earth approach and lessons are worded simply and directly, but they are “raw and real,” not superficial banter but deep lessons from the heart. Don’t let the fun of the cowboy analogy mislead you. The lessons that he learns along the way are profound and inspiring. Here are some examples: 

“Jesus was hardworking. He wasn’t scared of anything. He was all about getting the job done, and He knew how to have fun. The cowboy spirit has its roots in Jesus Christ.” 

“True conversion is never once-and-done.” 

“Fully surrendering our lives to Christ is a lifelong project.” 

“The spiritual life is a bronc….not a passive path, but a creative way of fulfilling the Father’s will with peace and joy.” 

“…being Catholic is not boring and restricted, it is being fully human.” 

“Grace is like a glacier. It can move mountains, but it takes time.” 

“Only God can satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts.” 

“Everyone needs a mother. Jesus did in his human life, and so do you and I in our spiritual life. The beauty of mothers is that they keep us childlike.” 

“The Catholic Cowboy Way is to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.”

 “Live involves suffering. Jesus didn’t come to do away with suffering. He came to redeem it, to give it purpose.” 

“The whole purpose of the cowboy way is to be authentically you— male or female; black, white or whatever.” 

“In following Him, we find ourselves.” 

“Courage is not an absence of fear but bravery in the face of our fears.” 

“Busyness is not a virtue. It is a distraction.” 

“Life in Christ is integrating. It unites body and soul, interests and mission, Heaven and earth.” 

“Forgiveness is the greatest liberator in the world. And there is no greater gift we can give ourselves than to forgive others.” 

“Peace is found in the present moment.” 

In explaining the cowboy attributes, Fr. Bryce even inserts several Latin translations like this: “The word confidence derives from the Latin words con fidere, which literally means with faith or trust.” 

As heroes, I can’t help thinking that cowboys are an American version of the medieval knight—serving the cause of goodness, seeking to save and protect the weak, and honoring God and the kingdom. Assuredly, I am not a cowboy, but I do appreciate the cowboy model for the heroic path to follow Christ. It also strikes me as a little like Jesus’ own image of the Good Shepherd. Both require courage, sacrifice, and steadfast loyalty. 

Fr. Bryce concludes his venture with the admonition to take time to “go fishing.” Rejuvenation and leisure are necessary for living fully as the men and women that God has created us to be. 

This approachable book is a brief 133 pages written at an easy reading level but with careful attention to authentic Catholic teaching including 181 references to scripture, the CCC, or other Church documents. 

“To follow the Lord with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength is the Catholic Cowboy Way.” 

(1) Lungren, Fr. Bryce. The Catholic Cowboy Way. (Sophia Institute Press, Manchester, NH, 2022)