Who You Run With

Back when I was in college at Virginia Tech, I had a habit of being mighty hard to reach in the late evenings. One day I wandered over to my mailbox and found an envelope from my mom. Now, I’ll be honest, I was hoping it held a little emergency “college survival fund.” But when I opened it, out slid a refrigerator magnet that read: “It’s hard to soar with the eagles when you run with the hoot owls.”

And just like that… my “late-night studying” story didn’t stand a chance.

Rolling with that theme I will tell you about one of those mornings that started off looking like a Western movie… and ended up more like a barnyard comedy.

Back in my farm manager days, I was living what I thought was about as close to heaven-on-dirt as you could get. Rolling pasture, Tennessee Walking horses, beef cows, and enough responsibility to keep a man honest. It was good. Real good.

Well… most of the time.

One morning I had to move a group of cows and calves from one pasture to another. Nothing complicated. Just ease them out, drift them through a section where we kept the horses, and into the next field. Simple. Smooth. The kind of job that makes you feel like you actually know what you’re doing.

So I saddled up my horse Shadow.

Now Shadow was a Tennessee Walking Horse, but in his mind he was a full-blown quarter horse cutting champion. That horse loved working cattle. One day I was trying to trailer up about 12 head on a gooseneck trailer and just hopped off of him and went and got the door to the trailer and that horse used his nose and teeth and pushed every one of those cows in there without me on him. It was a sight to see. Best horse I have ever around. Me and him just clicked. He was smooth as a Cadillac and twice as dependable.

I got the gates opened, everything lined up, and eased in behind about 120–130 head. Didn’t push, didn’t holler… just let them drift.

And wouldn’t you know it… they started heading exactly where they were supposed to go.

They knew the system. They knew fresh grass was waiting.

I’m sitting there in the saddle, sun coming up, cows moving like they’d all agreed on a plan beforehand… and I’m thinking, “Boy, look at you… Marlboro Man without the cigarette.” Just enjoying how smooth everything was going.

And here’s the key…That wasn’t me.

That was Shadow.

He knew how to position, how to pressure, how to guide without chaos. He made the job work the way it was supposed to.

Everything was going right.And then… I remembered.

Auggie.

That spotted jack.

Now I’ll say this as politely as I can… Auggie was about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. If there was ever a creature gifted in the ministry of confusion, it was him.

Right as we’re approaching the gate, that joker throws his head up, lets out a loud “EEYAW! EEYAW!” and takes off like he just got drafted into a horse race.

And he didn’t go around the cows.

No sir.

He ran right through the middle of them.

And just like that, what looked like a peaceful cattle drive turned into absolute chaos. Cows breaking left, calves darting right, dust flying everywhere… and me sitting there watching my perfect morning fall apart thinking, “Well… there goes that.”

All that order…

Gone in seconds.

Because of one fool running the wrong direction.

So I did what had to be done. I rode Shadow in, roped Auggie, and took him straight to the barn like he was under arrest. Locked him up.

And then spent the next two hours fixing what he tore up in about 30 seconds.

Now here’s the truth that sticks with me:

Shadow helped me accomplish the job.

Auggie nearly ruined it.

Same pasture. Same morning. Same situation.

Two very different influences.

And that’s not just a farm story… that’s a life lesson.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals.” You can be headed in the right direction… walking steady… doing what God’s called you to do, but get the wrong voice in your life, and everything can start scattering.

And Scripture doubles down in 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Do not be unequally yoked… For what fellowship has light with darkness?” That’s not just marriage or business… that’s everyday life. Friendships, influences, and the people you let close enough to run with you.

Because who you run with will eventually affect where you end up.

And we see it clear as day in the life of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam.

In 1 Kings 12:6–8, it says: “Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men… and they said… ‘If you will be a servant to this people… then they will be your servants forever.’

But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him.”

Now watch this… In 1 Kings 12:10–11, his friends told him: “Thus shall you speak… ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs… I will discipline you with scorpions.’” In other words…“Don’t lead with wisdom… lead with pride" and Rehoboam listened.

He chose his “Auggies” over wisdom and what happened? 1 Kings 12:16 says:

“So Israel went to their tents.” The kingdom split.

He lost influence, lost unity, and fractured what had been built before him.

Why? Not because he lacked opportunity. But because he listened to the wrong voices. He had wise counsel available… but chose the loud, reckless voices of his peers instead.

It wasn’t a knowledge problem. It was an influence problem.

Auggies don’t come with warning signs. They don’t introduce themselves as “the one about to wreck your peace.” They look normal. Sound normal. Sometimes even feel helpful.

Until they start running the wrong way… and suddenly your life feels like a stampede.

So here’s the question: Are the people around you helping you move toward better pasture…or scattering your life in every direction?

Because there’s a difference.

Shadow was steady, focused, and knew the goal. He made me better at what I needed to accomplish.

Auggie was loud, reckless, probably seen as exciting in some people’s eyes and had no sense of direction. He turned a good morning into a long one.

And if you’re not careful, one Auggie can undo what a good Shadow has been helping you build.

So choose your circle of friends wisely.

Make sure you’ve got some “Shadows” in your life…

people who push you toward Christ, toward purpose, toward better ground.

And be real careful about letting Auggies run loose around your calling.

Because one will help you accomplish what God’s put in front of you…

…and the other will make you look like a Jack.