By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

If curiosity killed the cat, what did it do to the cow?  That’s my deep philosophical question for this week.  LOL.  You’ve no doubt heard that phrase about the cat many times.  Cats are notoriously nosey, a.k.a. curious, and will stick their noses into anyone’s business any chance they get.  But what about cows?

This little fellow stood just across the fence line on the neighbor’s side, but looking across at me.  He stared intently for what I thought was a strangely long time.  He didn’t move or even flinch, except for the occasional ear flip to battle a fly or two.  He just stood there, as if genuinely interested in what kind of creature I was and what I was doing.

I spoke to him the same way I’ve always spoken to any of those cows, by saying what else but, “Hey Bully Bully.”  He didn’t acknowledge my greeting.  He simply stood there as if wondering what kind of creature I was on this other side of the fence.

Calf, cow, bull, steer.  In this little guy’s relatively short life span, he had already been known by several titles.  Maybe he wondered what to call me.  Here I stood, known at various times through my life as boy, son, brother, nephew, cousin, grandson, teenager, man, husband, father, clerk, chairman, flunky, pastor, friend, neighbor, etc. etc.  So many names for one man.  I’m also known by the name Christian – one who belongs to Christ and carries His name.  

That ear tag, or some sort of brand or marking, serves to identify the ownership of the animal.  I’m marked by the blood of the Lamb Who gave His life for me on Calvary so long ago.

I wonder if perhaps He stands there on the other side of the proverbial fence line and stares in disbelief at me, wondering who I will claim to be this week, whom I will serve, whose name I will carry.  I pray that He doesn’t have to stand in wonder, but that I represent Him well.

The little steer stood as tall as he could, representing all the others in the pasture, bearing the mark of their owner, no doubt to whom they belong.  I pray I can do the same in the week ahead.

Just a thought.