Life Lessons from a Cowboy: How One Question Changed an Atheist’s Perspective
Conversations with strangers can lead to unexpected insights, and for one atheist, a flight with a cowboy offered more than just small talk. The exchange began when the atheist, looking to pass the time, asked the old cowboy seated next to him, “Do you want to talk?”
The cowboy, who had just settled into his book, responded politely, “What would you like to talk about?”
The atheist, thinking he’d chosen a stimulating topic, replied, “Oh, I don’t know. How about why there is no God, no Heaven, no Hell, and no life after death?” He grinned, confident in his ability to navigate a conversation on such existential matters.
The cowboy, however, didn’t rush to engage in the debate. Instead, he said, “Those are interesting subjects, but before we talk about that, let me ask you one question first.”
The atheist, curious and slightly intrigued by the cowboy’s calm demeanor, agreed to listen.
“A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat grass,” the cowboy began. “But a deer poops little pellets, a cow makes flat patties, and a horse produces clumps. Why do you think that happens?”
The atheist was stumped. He had never considered such a question before and didn’t have an answer. After a brief pause, he confessed, “I don’t know.”
The cowboy, with a slight smile, responded, “If you don’t know shit, how are you supposed to talk about God, Heaven, Hell, or life after death?”
@ericaboersmaA Flight to Remember: Lessons from a Cowboy I recently read a story that I found both humorous and thought-provoking, and I wanted to share it… An atheist was seated next to a dusty old cowboy on an airplane and he turned to him and said, “Do you want to talk? Flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger.” The old cowboy, who had just started to read his book, replied to the total stranger, “What would you want to talk about?” “Oh, I don’t know,” said the atheist. “How about why there is no God, or no Heaven or Hell, or no life after death?” as he smiled smugly. “Okay,” he said. “Those could be interesting topics but let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff – grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, but a horse produces clumps. Why do you suppose that is?” The atheist, visibly surprised by the old cowboy’s intelligence, thinks about it and says, “Hmmm, I have no idea.” To which the cowboy replies, “Do you really feel qualified to discuss God, Heaven and Hell, or life after death, when you don’t know shit?”……
This simple but powerful exchange reminds us that sometimes, we’re too quick to engage in conversations about life’s biggest questions without first understanding the basics. The cowboy’s question was humorous, but it also highlighted an important truth—there’s value in humility, and sometimes, the simplest things in life can teach us the most profound lessons.
