Travelin’ Partners

P r o v e r b s 1 3 : 2 0 

Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. (NLT)

Most rodeo athletes have people they travel with. Bronc riders typically travel with other bronc riders. Team ropers travel with their partners, bull riders with other bull riders. These buddies are often called travelin’ partners. There are many benefits of traveling together as opposed to traveling by yourself. For instance, you have someone else to share the driving, you save money by sharing the cost of gas, and you have someone to help pull your rope or push your calf. Not to mention, if you go to the dance after the rodeo and ask a girl to dance who happens to have a jealous boyfriend you didn’t know about, your boys are there to keep you alive if the boyfriend tries to beat the crap out of you! The most famous travelin’ partners, that we’ve all probably heard of due to the movie 8 Seconds, were Lane Frost, Tuff Hedemen, and Cody Lambert. These guys were the ultimate travelin’ partners. They shared a smelly van, shared wins, shared getting beat up, shared dreams of being the best bull riders in the world, and, unfortunately, they shared the pain of losing a best friend.

Just like having travelin’ partners while rodeoing is awesome, I believe that who we travel with on this ride called life makes all the difference in the world. Friends that love Jesus help us not give in when we get tired of doing what is right because we feel left out. Christ-centered travelin’ partners help bring light to how the decisions we make today will affect us later on down the road. They encourage us  and build  us up spiritually. And when the devil attacks us, they’re there to fight with us! I know for me, I wouldn’t be half the man that I am today if it weren’t for the men and women who I’ve had the pleasure of travelin’ through life with. Men like my dad and father-in-law. Friends like Kreg Murphree, Josh Abbott, Ben Stewart, Jeremy Free- man, Chad Humphrey, and Mickey Bentley. My mentors: Billy Morgan, Ron Cline, Doug Melton, and Odus Compton. Women like my wife, Heather; my mom, Crickette; my friend, Cathy Whitaker, and many others. These outstanding people have traveled with me through thick and thin, and I’m forever grateful for their investment in me. 

How about you? Do you have a list of Christ-centered travelin’ partners who are shaping you to be more like Christ? If you don’t, it’s never too late to ask someone you admire and who has a growing relationship with Christ for some time together. Maybe it’s just a twenty-minute conversation where you ask for wisdom on a decision. Maybe it’s just calling them up and asking if you can ride in the pickup while they feed cows. Maybe it’s pitching in to help them on a project at their house. It’s in these life-on-life moments that God can transform you and grow you like never before. Maybe you have some great travelin’ partners already. When was the last time you honored them for the difference they’ve made in your life?

Don’t wait, do it now.

C H E W  O N  T H I S 

Who in your life helps you become more like Christ? Or who’s someone you’ve observed from afar who you know is growing in Christ that you’d like to build a friendship with? Maybe there’s a friend that has encouraged you for years. Reach out to them today and let them know how thankful you are for them.

P R A Y E R 

Jesus, show me who you want me to travel through this life with that will encourage me to be more like you. Help me to be that friend to others as well. And thank you for blessing me with the amazing Christ-centered friends that I already have.