Ream had his name tag
and a special guest pass, but Bob had to buy his ticket at the door. Ream
had not been in a large crowd of people since he had become blind. He stumbled
over a man's foot as Bob led him to seats on the aisle in the rear of the
crowded amphitheater. 
Ream
took the inside seat next to a vacant seat on which he placed his hat and
folded white cane.
However, before he
had hardly settled himself, the extra seat was requested by a woman
who kindly asked, "Is this seat available?" Bob responded to her, excusing
Ream for his toothache and indicating she was welcome to sit. Ream moved
his hat and cane.
The woman excused herself
as she slid by Ream's knees and into the chair next to him. He recognized
her perfume as Shalimar, which was a favorite of his. It had been some
time since he had been around a woman wearing perfume. The pleasure of
its scent seemed to make up for the discomfort from his tooth being
pulled earlier.
Shortly, Gus was introduced.
He walked to the podium placed at the left front of the stage. Gus took
off his hat and began to read slowly:
The Cowboy "God Principle"
There, standing in the
tall quiet, alone
a still, helping,
silence; the Cowboy.
Tall back, slow walking,
slow talking.
Not saying much, but
saying it all.
Accepting
you won't understand it.
But letting you listen,
before he says it.
Not what he says, but
what he don't say.
Always waitin' for
the sky to give permission.
There are no
guarantees in this world, besides
standing
behind it and making it right.
Not what you
are sorry for, or put in writing;
it's your
hand, and word, and "being there".
Ain't much a cowboy
has to own, or be
besides himself,
and his dreams.
An "honest" horse,
hard saddle,
hot coffee,
and time to be free.
Knowin', if you
own too much,
it owns
you. That you are only as big,
as what
you can walk away from.
The principle
of strength, and dignity.
A Cowboy is as
much about horses
as he is about
life. You got to
know horses,
to know a Cowboy's way.
The way a Cowboy
walks up to a horse.
Like a waltz,
slower than dancin'.
Asking consent,
then waiting on the
horse, hearing
the clouds grant kinship.
Then walkin'
in; giving freedom & respect.
His horse teaches an
"honest" relationship,
that riding is knowing
when to "let go", not
how to "hang on". Listening
to the touch, releas-
ing freedom, not fear.
The "God Principle".
Horse sense will
always choose freedom
Jerking and jamming
bring fear, not respect.
Controlling expresses
the "riders" fear. The
horse becomes a mirror
of the riders fear.
In life too, the Cowboy
will walk slow,
through "running scared",
not because he
is strong enough to
prove courage, but
because he is weak
enough to surrender fear.
A "Cowboys Lady" knows
when he is right,
and everything else
is wrong.
But she won't love
back, till it's true,
because she is deeper
than right or real.
A "Cowboys Lady" is
his compass
A deep breath of "now",
in her arms.
Together saying grace,
"Being there"
Letting the "stillness"
be the direction.
In the distance, in
the moment, riding tall.
In the together quiet,
the dust, the earth.
In church all day,
gathering peace, hearing
God breathe, in the
stillness, in the wind.
The Cowboy way, his
life, more than doing,
never bluffing; just
being. He is the meaning
of freedom. Not riding
on the surface of life,
but riding "in" it,---
living it.
The Quiet Cowboy, and "God Principle".
A warm applause filled
the theater as Gus silently put on his hat and walked off stage.
Bob Howard leaned toward
Ream and patted his arm in approval of Gus and said, "He really takes all
the clutter out of life, cutting through to the core of it, and so simply."