Jake, the rancher, went one day to fix a distant fence.
The wind was cold and gusty and the clouds rolled gray and dense.

* * * *
As he pounded the last staples in and gathered tools to go,
The temperature had fallen, the wind and snow began to blow.

* * * *
When he finally reached his pickup, he felt a heavy heart.
From the sound of that ignition, he knew it wouldn't start.

* * * *
So Jake did what most of us would do if we had been there.
He humbly bowed his balding head and sent aloft a prayer.

* * * *
As he turned the key for the last time, he softly cursed his luck.
They found him three days later, frozen stiff in that old truck.

* * * *
Now Jake had been around in life and done his share of roaming.
But when he saw Heaven, he was shocked -- it looked just like Wyoming!

* * * *
Of all the saints in Heaven, his favorite was St. Peter.
(Now, this line ain't needed but it helps with rhyme and meter).

* * * *
So they set and talked a minute or two, or maybe it was three.
Nobody was keepin' score -- in Heaven time is free.

* * * *
"I've always heard," Jake said to Pete, "that God will answer prayer,
But one time I asked for help, well, He just plain wasn't there."

* * * *
"Does God answer prayers of some, and ignore the prayers of others?
That don't seem exactly square -- I know all men are brothers.."

* * * *
"Or does He randomly reply, without good rhyme or reason?
Maybe, it's the time of day, the weather or the season."

* * * *
"Now I ain't trying to act smart, it's just the way I feel.
And I was wondering', could you tell me -- what the heck's the deal?!"

* * * *
Peter listened very patiently and when Jake was done,
There were smiles of recognition, and he said, "So, you're the one!!"

* * * *
"That day your truck, it wouldn't start, and you sent your prayer a flying,
You gave us all a real bad time, with hundreds of us trying."

* * * *
"A thousand angels rushed, to check the status of your file,
But you know, Jake, we hadn't heard from you in quite a long while."

* * * *
"And though all prayers are answered, and God ain't got no quota,
He didn't recognize your voice, and started a truck in North Dakota."

* * * *
IT’S JUST PLAIN BETTER TO KEEP IN TOUCH!

* * * *