1 John 5:14-15
“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”
I think I was born too late. True, TV westerns romanticize the past, and yet, I still enjoy doing many things the old way and dream of the “cowboy life.” I’m sure that today, at minus 30 degrees in Mandan, ND, I would think twice about leaving the house without my Eddie Bower down jacket and boots to feed the horses.
With a good Western, I can live the old life for a few hours without being there. Naturally, the Yellowstone origin story in 1883 became my favorite of the three series. My brother pointed out that of the many immigrants beginning the journey to Oregon, only about three families, or was it two, survived the arduous journey to free land.
After meeting Beth Dutton in the original series, and then Elsa Dutton In 1883, I gotta say, Beth ain’t got nothin’ on Elsa. She was a free spirit, living life to the fullest before her untimely death at 18 years of age. I’m sure I am not the only one disappointed in that turn of events. Elsa’s plot determined the location of the Yellowstone Ranch, a place called Paradise Valley by the Native Americans who we thought could save her life. Darn.
Elsa’s voice could be heard throughout 1883, and she continued to play a part in 1923 as a narrator. Once again, I was struck by a line in the story written by Taylor Sheridan. Sheridan makes several appearances in these three series and the many other tales he tells, Landman, Mayor of Kingstown, Lioness, and many great movies like Wind River.
He is currently working on a new series called 6666, a ranch featured in the series Yellowstone. He owns that ranch.
Googling Taylor Sheridan, I found a long list of some of my favorite movies. Now, if you have ever seen him in any of these pieces, you might not think he was capable of writing such creative sensitive screenplays.
I learned about his career as an actor turned screenwriter and was surprised at his talent, especially when I found out he wrote the narrative that Elsa relays in 1883.
In one episode she said, “There are only three answers to a prayer. Yes, not yet, and I have something else in mind for you. Man’s great challenge is trusting not yet, or something else, and avoiding the foolish notion of hope, wishing to nothing that your unanswered prayers grant. Hope is the surrender of authority to your faith.“
It struck a chord.
Here I am, making plans for this year, commitments that will take me well out of my comfort zone, knowing full well that at any moment, I will require a new treatment for my cancer. Or worse. Yet, with strength from full faith in God that he has heard my prayers and will answer them according to 1 John 5:14-15, I move forward from day to day, living in my disease instead of waiting to die.
We all know our final fate is inevitable. Last week, I received three such notices in one day, including my sister.
Please don’t mistake these words for complete confidence that I will be able to fulfill my commitments this year. I have days when I don’t feel well enough to deal with life.
Somehow, those feelings pass with a word of support, a prayer, a hug, a smile, or one of those unexplainable moments when the sun rises, and God provides a vote of confidence that I am doing what he wanted me to do all along — pay attention to the things that are important and not so much to the things that in his eyes do not matter.
Through the friends, and sometimes strangers, that surround me, I find answers to my prayers in a resounding yes or wait and meditate on it, or go ahead with the unexpected new experiences God has lined up for me this year.
It is a day-by-day journey my friends, and we are traveling together.
INDYchildrendotme 
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