Written May, 21, 2007
I recently spent a week in Tahoe with my family and on the way home I came across this little lamb that inspired me. We were driving along the freeway when I spotted this large herd of sheep grazing in the late afternoon sunshine. I decided that I would stop and snap a few photographs of these amazing creatures that really do teach us so much about ourselves if we have ears to hear. I pulled over and hoped my children would be patient with me as I hopped the small fence and began making my way across the fields. Now, while all the other sheep saw me approaching and cautiously backed away to a safer distance, there was this one little guy that was totally oblivious to me and everything else going on around him. In many ways, I felt I had stepped into a Warner Brother's cartoon, and I had to C.O.L ( chuckle out loud ) at the image before me. This obliviously distracted fellow continued to chew away on something that must have been in his mouth for quite some time, his eyes closed, in a self absorbed dream like trance. I'm sure he must have been thinking about how wonderful this day was, the nice warm sun on his cleanly shaved back, plenty of sweet grass to munch on, the wind lightly caressing his sweet face. He didn't have a care in the world. It really was a joy for me to step outside of my camera lens and just behold him in all his glory. Yet as I stood there watching him, I was also struck with the absurdity of it all. I did not use a zoom lens to get this shot above- I was actually THAT CLOSE ! If I had been a predator this lamb would have been an easy target and a welcomed meal. I watched him for a while longer in between carrying out my mission to take as many pictures of him as I could and there, in that moment I was also lovingly reminded of the Good Shepherd that watches over and protects His flock. We too, can so easily be caught unaware like little lambs, we too need to be protected from the predators that want to devour us.
I have been told that when a number of sheep, belonging to different shepards, are lying in the same pasture, a shepherd can summon out his own herd by his voice alone. A stranger could try to emulate the call, but it would be difficult to fool the sheep, as they will only follow the voice that they know. How often do I close my ears to that voice. How often have I wandered away from the safety of my Shepards call. There have been times in my rebellion and pride, that I insisted on going my own way, forsaking the truth that I knew.
Those experiences have humbled me, and made me realize my utter dependence on the Good Shepard. I have come to understand that I will hear His voice best, when I continue to abide in His presence.
John 10: 1 - 18.
I have been told that when a number of sheep, belonging to different shepards, are lying in the same pasture, a shepherd can summon out his own herd by his voice alone. A stranger could try to emulate the call, but it would be difficult to fool the sheep, as they will only follow the voice that they know. How often do I close my ears to that voice. How often have I wandered away from the safety of my Shepards call. There have been times in my rebellion and pride, that I insisted on going my own way, forsaking the truth that I knew.
Those experiences have humbled me, and made me realize my utter dependence on the Good Shepard. I have come to understand that I will hear His voice best, when I continue to abide in His presence.
He has promised never to leave us or forsake us, and I do believe that in His tender care we can find comfort, reconciliation, and protection. We may be simple minded, and limited in our abilities, but there is really only one thing that is needful. Like Mary that remained at the feet of Jesus while Martha went away busy and preoccupied, we must continue to draw close unto our Lord, even while the rest of the world rushes by. Then we can be assured that we will hear His voice, and He will be faithful to guide and direct our lives so that we can ultimately bring all glory and honor to Him. Jesus tells us that He has come so that we might have life and have it to the full. Imagine how easy that is--we don't have to be any more intelligent than a little lamb!
All we need to do is listen to His voice and follow Him and He will give us Life!
The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own he goes on ahead of them and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech but they did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved." He will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full!
