Mooooove over 10 virgins, we've got a new parable in town.

Yesterday Popeye was at work.  He sent me several texts getting more and more perplexed because there was a cow on the interstate.  (Yes, I know how that sounds.  Where else would you hear of a cow on the interstate than in the middle of nowhere, USA?)
Anyway.  He texted me a little while later telling me that the cow became smart and got back into the pasture.

Evidently, the cow got out of the pasture, which runs parallel to the interstate.  Popeye drove up and down that area, trying to find the hole in the fence.  Nothin'. He looked at the gate - it seemed pretty solid.  So he couldn't figure out where that cow belonged.  He would chase it down off the interstate back towards the fence and the cow wouldn't go back in the way it got out.
So Popeye thought to himself, "I've prayed for stranger things."  So he prayed that Heavenly Father would make the cow smart and remember how it got back in.  Then he got the distinct impression to "Go".  So Popeye left.  He came upon a couple of houses, thinking that they were the ranchers, but they weren't.  Then he thought, "Heavenly Father is going to pick up that cow and put it over the fence.  I'm missing it!"  So he turned around to see God's hand in action.
When he got back, the cow was still there, on the wrong side of the fence.  Popeye looked up the hill and saw a small herd come down over the ridge to this cow.  They conversed with each other over the fence.  The lone cow seemed perplexed because he knew he wanted to be with his buddies but couldn't find his way back.  He'd go up towards the interstate, Popeye would chase him back, the cows would talk and it repeated.
The group of cows finally gave up and walked away.
Popeye prayed again, "Heavenly Father, please make this cow smart.  It needs to get back to where it can be safe.  If he doesn't go over there, I'll have to shoot it." 
So what happens?  The cow runs down the hill, puts his nose under the fence post and pops up the gate and walks back in.

So how can we liken this parable to us today?

Sometimes we get on the wrong side of the fence.  We get into danger's way and can't seem to find our way back to the right side.  No matter how much coaxing we get from our loved ones and leaders of the church on the right side, it takes Divine intervention to let us in.  (Divine intervention meaning, the atonement and repentance.)  Only then, can we return to safety and security.

Good story, huh? Yeah, I thought so too.  So now when you see a cow, you'll remember the parable of the cow.  :)