The Outlaw’s Prayer
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Lauri Anne Jacobs
The Outlaw’s Prayer is a song by Johnny Paycheck released in 1976. It is one of my personal favorites as it resonates with the “outlaw” persona reflecting on the struggles and finding grace in a life of hardship. The Outlaw (Johnny Paycheck) goes into the big fancy church having a rough appearance of long shaggy hair and beard, and not wearing fine clothes. His desire is to worship with God’s people, but when he goes in, he is judged on appearances and not by what is in his heart. He goes on to say how the ladies in the choir were at his show on the front row drinking beer and cheering, but not welcoming him into their fine church. He is talking to the Lord, saying John the Baptist in his coat of camel hair wouldn’t be welcome in that place. He is also reminded that Jesus had long hair and sandals.
This made me think of how often this happens in every aspect of life. I have been in restaurants after church to pick up food, and I see a lot of church people and notice how some of them behave. They are not exactly treating the staff with kindness and patience or acting like they just left church. God’s people are supposed to set the example, not drive people away. This is just one of many examples. Outlaws are not always criminals as people think. A lot of times, they are outcasts or on the fringes of society, but they are good people with good hearts. I, myself, would rather be with the so-called outlaws than the best society has to offer. I have found these people will show the heart of Christ without knowing it. When they help you in any way, it is with a pure heart expecting nothing in return.
I am thankful to have been raised in a home and church that never turned anybody away and helped people equally. I can remember Daddy stopping to pick people up on the side of the road to give them a ride. I know that is dangerous now, but it was what was done regularly back then. I saw this as a child, and it taught me something: not to judge their situation and to treat everyone with kindness. Mama and Daddy always cooked big country suppers. We never knew who might knock on the door at supper time. They never turned anybody away and just pulled up another chair. We always had plenty. This was instilled in me, and of course I carried that tradition over to Double Wide Paradise. The tradition of passing things like this down has been lost in the hurry-up pace of society now. People forget to stop and look and do not make time to lend a hand to the “outlaws” or the outcasts of society.
I believe in an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. The Bible says if a man is not willing to work, don’t let him eat. I am not talking about enabling people, but rather do not turn your back on the outlaws because of societal standards or those truly in need. If you think about it President Trump fits the image of an outlaw. He did not fit the image of what people thought was presidential. God does not call the equipped; he equips the called. I believe just as God is using President Trump to help our country, he will use the outlaws and outcasts of society to build his kingdom and spread the gospel.
So, the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen (Matthew 20:16 KJV).
