THE COWBOY AND THE TRUCKER

Two Roads, One Spirit – A Cowboy, a Trucker, and a Moment that Gave Me Chills

By Will Cook | A Driver’s Perspective

Somewhere out on US 30 in Wyoming today, I caught a glimpse of something that hit me deep – the kind of thing that makes you forget you’re hauling freight and remember you’re part of something sacred.

I saw a cowboy.

Not a costumed one – a real one. Probably in his 50s or 60s, riding a horse, cowboy hat, boots, blue jeans, western shirt. He was out in the open, moving cattle slow and steady – about 20 head – just doing what he does. Not rushing. Not fussing. Just living the life God gave him.

And I tooted my horn – not a blast, just a little tip of the hat from my steel horse. He raised his hand and waved. Man… that moment gave me chills.

Here I am in my rig – 1,197 miles to go from Idaho to St. Louis, clock ticking, load riding – and yet in that one second, I didn’t feel pressure. I felt freedom. Kinship. Two men, two lanes, doing what we were born to do. Not for the money. Not for the applause.

Just… because we love it. Because it’s real.

I may not sit a saddle like that cowboy, but I’ve sat in this one – the seat of a semi – long enough to know the road has a rhythm. And when you’re in it, truly in it, you realize you’re a part of something bigger. You’re not just moving freight – you’re riding through God’s creation. And that’s not a job. That’s a blessing.

I won’t be rich. I’m just like most Americans – paycheck to paycheck, trying to keep up, independent contractor by choice so I can take a day off when I want or park for a few days in Idaho just to breathe.

But today…that cowboy reminded me that we’re a dying breed. Him and me. The cowboy and the trucker. Both nearly forgotten. Both still out here. Not chasing millions. Just chasing purpose.

And it’s somber when you think about how far we’ve drifted. We traded cattle and roads for screens and algorithms. God’s creation for tech gods.

And now, we’re on the brink of driverless trucks. I’m not against technology. I believe it has a place. But it needs to serve humanity, not replace it. It needs to be stewarded by people who care about lives – not just profits.

That’s why I do street ministry when I can. That’s why I write. That’s why I speak up for truckers, for the homeless, for the forgotten – because I believe when we put people first again, when we remember the poor, the humble, the hardworking – God will bless this nation again in ways we can’t even imagine.

We won’t fix this country with corporate greed or artificial intelligence. We’ll fix it when we remember that real work still matters. Real people still matter. God still matters.

That cowboy on the trail and me on the highway – we’re not that different. Two riders. Two roads. Both of us still waving when we pass by.

And you can’t put a dollar amount on that.

 

Will Cook | A Driver’s Perspective