Just a Sheep V – The Scattered and the Gathered

I’ve been taking a slow stroll through John 10, pausing frequently to digest the richness and depth of meaning behind the initial reading. Told at a moment when the Pharisees were in a flurry of tense and defensive tempers, I can imagine how they looked with postures of arms crossed and shoulders hunched in the body language of dissent. Jesus speaks with authority to them, confronting and teaching, challenging and storytelling; using a culturally familiar account of a shepherd, a wolf and a flock of sheep.

Three dogs bound out of the door each morning. One runs to the bushes, searching with great enthusiasm for a rabbit or squirrel to chase. Another ambles up the driveway at her own pace looking for butterflies to hop after. The third waits at the door for her owner to appear, like a permanent attendance taker who wants her paw held. When all three are running at full speed, and in opposite trajectories, it can be challenging to capture their attention and regroup them to move in the same direction again. A slight distraction appears and off they go, scattered across the yard.

Animals grouped into flocks, herds or schools all have their own instinctual response to the presence and attack of a predator. In the case of the sheep in John 10, we are told that the wolf scatters them. If it can take considerable effort to return three happy dogs to one spot, I would imagine it would be very difficult to recall many scared sheep running in terror. Hold that thought for a moment, allow your senses to play a role in taking in the scene. Imagine the vibration in the earth as hooves hit the ground, the stinging smell of adrenaline and dust heavy in the air, hearing the low growl of the wolf and the panicked bleating of the runners. It is a scene of chaos, where on top of it all, the employee who has been hired to care for the sheep decides to make a run for it to find a safer job. 

The Pharisees are not happy, they have just been compared to ones who are part of scattering the flock with fear and not protecting them as leaders are called to do. Middle class businessmen, trying to uphold the strictest interpretation of the Old Testament laws and traditions; I can understand why they were perturbed. It is easy to hold onto something that we feel is concrete and correct, something that is safe and steady to guide ourselves and others by. However, when we let tradition become law, become an idol in and of itself, we run a risk of scattering and causing serious wounds. 

Standing there insulted, they now hear Jesus telling them that not only is he known by and knows his sheep, but he will gather them to Him. The image takes a drastic change. Instead of creatures running in terror, we are comforted with the true shepherd who does not abandon the sheep in time of trouble and does not bring about predatory attacks, laying down his life for the sheep instead. Just like a big smile appears on my face when I speak to a dear friend whose familiar voice I love to hear, there is comfort for the gathered sheep in hearing the voice of the shepherd, it is not that of a stranger.

Then, Jesus goes one step further. He speaks of more sheep in a different pen who are going to be gathered to him as well. A different pen? More sheep? Where are these sheep coming from? What is he talking about? Can’t you imagine the questions flying through the minds of those listening? They might have drawn two different assumptions. As this was coming on the heels of the man who was just ostracized from the synagogue (and now a large part of his social and spiritual world) due to an act of healing, some might have thought the reference was to him and others like him. Some may have grasped that this could have referenced a group other than the Jews, the gathering of the Gentiles. Thoughts are churning, it is not a comfortable moment to be listening to these words.

In the hindsight of a vast amount of time I still find the thought of scattering and gathering very relevant today. We need to consider if we are part of the scattering or the gathering. Are we so reliant on tradition and social assumptions that we turn out sheep that do not meet our self-imposed prerequisites and niceties? Do we follow employees who run and look for safer jobs when the wolf comes around or the shepherd who will defend his sheep? Are we so caught up in law that we forget the true heart and voice of the law, instead making up our own imprisoning interpretations as we go? The questions can pinch any who look at them honestly. But, after taking that long look, I would encourage us to focus on the ending of this part of John 10, at the second part of verse 16, “… and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” The gathering is happening – exciting times!

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd." ~ John 10:11-16

Just a Sheep III – Life Giver of Abundance

A heavy rain just ended. The clouds carrying evaporative moisture experienced cooling and condensing, turning the vapor into rain. It is as if a cloud were like a towel, too heavy with moisture and it was wrung out. The soil received the rain, it seeped into the dirt and watered the roots of plants burrowed into the ground. With the rain the world turns shades of lovely lively greens; and from some of these green organic structures a harvest can be picked. This season of abundant harvest is shown in the multi-colored farmer’s market stands, as they hold a literal cornucopia of vegetables and fruits. From these harvestings, we are physically nourished for daily life. However, this is no lackluster nourishment. This harvest is rich with color, fragrance, texture and taste. It is abundant, abundance being a wave, a surge and an overflow. Late in the summer, the harvest is ample. But the life that the shepherd provides is more abundant than any a garden can produce.   

Listening to the words of Jesus at the beginning of John 10, it seems as though he might have received some blank stares and puzzled looks talking about sheep and shepherding. Picking up the subject again, Jesus draws a sharp contrast between himself and robbers. While the shepherd seeks the best for the flock to keep it safe and healthy, the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. No doubt some were pondering these words and felt their tempers rising, realizing that they – the spiritually favorable – had just been referred to as thieves. Thieves comes to rob us of joy, peace, hope, faith and to destroy the relationship with the shepherd.

I love this last contrast in verse ten. Watch the word I, “I have come.” The Lord has come, the Lord is come. And, he comes for a purpose! I have come to give life, a more abundant life. In other words, I am the shepherd and I will take care of my people. Not in a minimal way to just get them by; rather I will give of myself so that they have life more abundantly. This abundance is the kind that is measured, pressed down, shaken together and running over, (Luke 6:38). This is the abundance we cannot contain, it simply keeps overflowing from our hands, running down our arms and seeping into the ground below our feet. 

“Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.’”  John 10: 7-10

In a world of achieve more, faster, higher and better, I occasionally hear someone speak honestly of the desire for an abundance that they cannot make. It is an abundance of life, which has nothing to do with earthbound accomplishments. It is the more of eternity, the more of agape, the more of freedom that comes from reliances on the shepherd. This is the more that cannot be destroyed or taken. This is the more of Jesus, the giver of abundant life.

Just a Sheep II – One Gate

On a trip to South Dakota, time was spent at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary. Beyond being a beautiful ranch where a variety of wild horses live in a sanctuary environment, this was also once a homestead. If you ever have the chance to travel that way, I highly recommend making the stop. Make sure to take a moment to look at the remains of a fenced area where a few animals would have been kept by the settlers. A natural wall of rock stands along a portion, then a fence structure meets them, with space left for one opening. I would imagine that this type of arrangement is not unusual in many places still; using natural resources to make a safe holding area.

It probably didn’t look all that different in ancient Israel where sheep were gathered for the evening. The gate itself however wasn’t made of metal or wood, it was the stretched out body of the shepherd; it was here that the shepherd would rest, keeping the predators out and the sheep in. If either the former attempted to enter, or the latter to leave, the shepherd would know as they would have to pass over his body. With one gate, and that being the shepherd, suddenly the impact of the words in John 10:7 carry new weight.

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  John 10:7

I imagine a sheep, suffering from a bout of insomnia and after not overcoming it by counting everyone else standing around in the pasture, decides an evening stroll would be just the thing to do. Moving over to the gate, the sheep sees the shepherd and not wanting to disturb him (or get caught), tries to quietly and stealthily step over the shepherd and out into the area of supposed freedom. No matter how the sheep tries, the shepherd is aware of its presence and moves to intercept. Finally, the sheep is discouraged and gives up, returning to the flock muttering the whole way there. “Always has to be in charge, never lets me do what I want. I just wanted a little walk!”

Suddenly, there are chaotic sounds and motions coming from the gate as the shepherd rises to block a wolf from entering to prey on the sheep. Where the wooly headed creature had just been grumbling, it is now tucked in with the others and loudly singing the praises of the shepherd. “I didn’t know there was a wolf out there! He is such a good protector, always looking out for us.”

I’ve been that kind of a sheep before. I get a little bored and see something beyond the boundaries of where I have been told to stay and am inclined to wander. It is as if there is something on the other side of the fence being dangled to grab my attention. I fidget my way over, knowing the entire while I’m not supposed to wander off. Then, I get annoyed when told again to stay where it is safe. Haven’t you ever rationalized it in your mind? If I can just do this small thing, then I will come back into the fold where the rest of the sheep are. Or sometimes I get turned around, my phone battery must be dead – thus no GPS, and I can go wandering out in what I think is the right direction. However, it really is leading me to places of dangerous drops and thorns.

Yet, the gate itself is the shepherd. And to enter or exit, I would have to pass over his body. It reminds me of how Jesus stretched out on a cross, allowing himself to pay for my sins, your sins. As the ultimate gate, he opened the way to eternal life, showed his love and continues to do so. One little verse in John and I am held awestruck with its meaning. 

Just a Sheep I – Selective Listening

I stood on a small ridge, looking over a shallow gully where a herd of sheep was staring back at me. Sharing the same pasture, I had hoped for some sort of friendly sheep connection leading to me getting to pet them. They stared at me, I talked to them. They watched me and I tried to think of a sheep song I could sing to convince them to overlook my being a stranger. I tried to convince them that they really were very nice sheep that would like to have their heads rubbed. The glares I received in return stated clearly that I was not winning these sheep over. They didn’t know me, nor did they have any inclination to get to know me. My voice was not recognized.

As much as I would have liked to pet at least one of those wooly headed creatures, I understand their reluctance. This caution for any unknown was part of how they defended themselves. They were listening for a familiar voice, the voice of their shepherd. My voice was that of a stranger, and did not appeal to their sense of security. However, if the shepherd were present, things might be greatly different. The voice of the shepherd is the voice of protection, good pasture, care and adequate shelter. Knowing the voice and trusting it, the sheep will follow the shepherd from place to place.

As Christ is my shepherd, I need to rely on his voice. As a shepherd, he provides me with truth, grace, love, nourishment, protection and refreshment. This means I need know the voice I am listening for, and that I actually need to be listening. It is so easy to be distracted by other voices, I know it doesn’t take much sometimes for me to lose that focus. The background noises crank up the volume and I forget to listen, wandering off on my own. Pretty soon I am stuck. I may not be entirely certain how I got there and will need some assistance to get out. Standing there, stuck, I am forced to wait and listen, hoping to hear the familiar voice of my shepherd coming to assist. What a sweet sound that is, especially because I am not great at waiting for rescue - I get squirmy and impatient.

Towards the end of Tuesday on this very busy week, a few of us agreed that surely it should be Thursday. Can we just make the next day Friday by group decision? I was tired, feeling the pressure I place on myself as I watch the list of projects I want to participate in grow. Wednesday came, the group vote for Friday was overruled by calendar makers, and again the day primarily passed in a blur of rushing. Where in the midst of the hectic movement around me was the shepherd’s voice? It was hard to listen – let alone hear in all of that commotion. I felt stuck in the pace of the moments, and was waiting impatiently, hoping to be hearing my shepherd’s voice once again to calm my heart and mind against the ticking of the clock.

Sitting at a picnic table that evening at a Bible study and fellowship time, I felt my spirit being refreshed even as my eyes grew increasingly tired. In the midst of this great conversation, a young man with his hand behind his back left the road, came down the hill, took the steps and crossed the pavilion. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect to see when the hand returned to his front. What I did not anticipate seeing was a beautiful yellow rose, tinged in coral. My favorite of rose colors is this, the one that looks like a sunset was shaped into a flower and smells like all the sweetness of summer. I looked into the face of a young man and his big grin. I couldn’t help but smile in return. “This is for you,” is all the rose giver said.

I’ve never seen this fellow before, nor do I expect to meet him in the future. The interaction lasted for a moment and contained less than a dozen words between us. But that moment will stay with me for some time. I was tired, feeling caught up in the background noise and wondering exactly how I was going to fit the rest of my week into the actual span of a week. Then, in an unexpected way, the voice of my shepherd burst through the noise with a friendly smile and a beautiful rose. It was an encouragement, a refocusing of listening for my distracted thinking. And in the moment, through the actions of a stranger, I listened to the familiar voice of my shepherd. He whispered to me through a sunset colored rose, caught my attention with the fresh fragrance, and told me that he was with me.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 

John 10:1-5

Wooly

Last weekend, while visiting a park, I stopped to watch the sheep as they were eating from their pan. The sheep were still covered with their thick winter wool. Covering them from wooly head to tail, the wool that had provided the thick covering of warmth through the winter, will not suit them over the summer.

I was reminded how the wool served as a protection for them as they most needed it, and then they need care for the spring and summer. There are times when I have needed an extra layer of wool. As there are difficulties or when life feels cold, that warmth is just what is needed. The wool of the sheep conforms to them perfectly, fitting their needs in a way that is designed specifically for them.
At other times, there are warmths and things to celebrate. The race that is being ran would be much to sweltering in a wooly blanket. At that time, the shepherd is needed to come and care for the sheep, removing the wool.
As God provides me a wooly blanket and also sheers it off – his timing and provision is always perfect.

Are you a Sheep or a Goat?

Sheep and goats, being separated out – this is how Matthew 25 ends up. What is the deal with that? I had to do a little digging myself to understand more of why the goats were being separated out.

Sheep per the keyword search in Bible Gateway, as “frequently mentioned in Scripture. The care of a shepherd over his flock illustrates God’s care over his people.” Goats are referred to as “oppressors and wicked men.”

Okay, with that known – let’s shift back to Matthew. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left,” (Matthew 25: 31-33). I’m not terribly livestock knowledgeable. I get dogs, how to speak their language so to speak, and a few other small fuzzy animals – but livestock? Not really. So, in my head, I imagine the goats being herded this way and the sheep that. There is baaing and bleeting and shepherds trying to avoid having their toes stepped on.


This takes me back to the why question however, why separate them?


“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me,” (Matthew 25:34-36).

That is quite a list and my first reaction is when did I do that? I can see the eat and drink thing because I have lived in the south and have been part of the southern hospitality thing. It’s not a myth, it really exists – and it’s rather lovely. When did I clothe you? When did I visit you in prison? The prison one I have wondered if that also applies to those who are not just in literal prisons, but trapped in situations.


I love that Jesus hung out with real people, and that he allowed them to ask real questions, because their reactions so often are something I can understand. Why? Because they asked the same question. “‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you. The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me,’” (Matthew 15:37-40).

Then there are those goats. The goats, also get a few sentences, “‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you? He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you will do not do for me.’” (Matthew 25:41-45).


So it’s better to be a sheep, because the sheep get “eternal life,” while the goats are sent to “eternal punishment.” Seems kind of like a no-brainer decision, but yet so many times we hold back and act more like a goat than a sheep. Come on fellow baaa’s let’s join the sheep!

Protector of the Protectors

Twila Paris wrote a beautiful song in 1984, The Warrior is a Child.  The words both confirm the beauties of God’s grace, the strength, of his armor, and that there are still wounds.  Wounds come to those in the Christian body, and when they are from inside the Christian body it can feel even harsher.  Each of us has gifts, different and yet similar in that they are meant to focus on a common purpose.  Looking at the role of a shepherd, we see someone that guides, someone who addresses wounds, someone who feeds them, and someone who protects them.

A guide helps the sheep know which way to go, the direction of the path which leads to grazing pastures and cool and clean water sources.  A shepherd addresses the wounds of his sheep.  Sometimes, the sheep will bear wounds from poor direction, chasing that elusive scent of fresh grass into a thicket of thorns.  At other times, wounds come from the sharp cut of claws and teeth from a predator.  As all living things, it is important that the sheep are fed.  But, they shouldn’t just eat any thing.  Their bodies will operate best on certain foods. 

We often need help knowing which way to go.  A fan of pro con lists, I have written many of them over the years trying to figure out decisions.  Grabbing whatever piece of paper is handy; I draw out my T and label each side.  Pro, cons – then, I start listing out all of the possible things my decision might affect.  The problem is that often, I still don’t know which way to go.  Instead, I need someone who knows the paths to give me some firm directions. 

A shepherd is responsible for the health of the sheep, meaning that their wounds must be tended.  Strong sure hands can move over that body and know what feels amiss.  Perhaps a patch has been scraped when walking in thorns.  Removal of debris from the wounds and tending to the needs fulfills the role of a healer.  Other animals may see sheep as easy prey, weak and without any defensive means.  Wolves and lions prowl, hungry and looking for prey.  Sharp claws, deadly teeth slash at the sheep and the shepherd must keep the sheep safe. But, also if an attack occurs, the survivors must be given healing touches.

Finally, there is a protector.  The shepherd who stands between the predator and the prey and defends the herd, watchful eyes and ears are required, skill with the use of the staff.  We each have a gift, and some of us are more aware of our enemies than others.  We learn to protect through prayer.  We do not rely on ourselves and our strength, but rely on God to fight for us.  It is the role of the protector to be aware, to warn, to turn things over to God. 

What do you do however when your protectors are tired? Especially, if the hurt is from within the body of Christ, the wound seems to be doubly deep, and infection of bitterness and feelings of betrayal easily set in.  What do you do then?  Yes, I do love that song by Twila Paris, as she acknowledges the hurt, but it is only in the retreat that we go to lay wounded, bruised, and broken at God’s feet.  There, and only there, we are picked up and the shepherd applies the healing ointment The wounds are cleaned, bound, and we are given a time to rest.   Then, donning the armor we resume our role.  

Angel Signs and Shepherd Hearts

Baaah Baaah Baaah Baaah – that is my best imitation of sheep in writing, not that in person is really much better.  What can I say; animal imitations are not my thing.  But this sound is commonly heard in churches this time of year, coming out of the mouths of too cute children who forget lines, yell lines, and everything in between.  This is the time of year when those children act out the birth of Christ, including the shepherds in the fields, thus the sheep. 

The actual shepherds out in the fields, had an important responsibility and they were chosen specifically to hear the good news of the birth of Jesus.  Why shepherds?  These are not political leaders, they weren’t the wealthy social leaders, they were laborers.  Yet, these laborers had special responsibility – they were in charge of the sheep. 

I love driving past farms with new lambs out in the pastures.  They are so cute with their spindly legs and fuzzy furry bodies.  However, sheep are a metaphor that are used over and over in the New Testament.  Sheep, a gaggle of furry followers that don’t have much of an ability to protect themselves from predators, need looked after, and will wander off and get lost. 

It was to the shepherds that the angel appeared. I wonder what the sheep did – startle and run to the edges of the pen perhaps, or maybe they were less scared of angels than the shepherds were.  An angel messenger came – and the “glory of the Lord shone around him,” (Luke 2: 9).  These men were terrified, this is not nervous or startled – but terrified!  The angel said -"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people,” (Luke 2:10).  Not just good new, but good news of great joy.  Not just for some people, but for all the people! 

What was the good news?   “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord,” (Luke 2:11).    Imagine the jaws that had to be scraped up off the ground that night, not from being speechless but from being knocked down with fright.  God’s love is so completely overwhelming.  Have you ever noticed, that angels start with a message of do not be afraid?  Do not be afraid, for God has….that seems to be the pattern that this typically takes.

God sent messengers to shepherds, which is such a beautiful symbol of how God cares for us.  Sheep need attention to their health, protection from predators, gathered into a pen for the night, and have wounds tended to.  We as a flock of people, a body of Christ are very similar.  We need attention paid to our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.  Just like having a regular physical is something that is recognized as a standard health care, the shepherd knew his sheep and would prepare to take care of their health needs on a regular and as needed bases.  Our shepherd, God also takes care of our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs.  By prayer, praise, exercise, eating well, and really developing the relationship with Him that our heart seeks, and He seeks for us – we gain health.  This is a sacrifice for our shepherd because we are messy sheep.  We will bounce into him, possibly even try to ram him, struggle when given medicine, put up a fight when it comes to having a thorn removed or a cut stitched up. 

Sheep also are not good at protecting themselves. They need a warrior who will protect them from wolves, lions, the dangerous animals which see sheep as an easy meal.  Satan is described to us as a roaring lion.  At night, sheep were put in a pen with only one entrance/exit.  The shepherd slept there to keep the sheep in and the predators out.  We also need a protector, who can and will fight for us, who positions Himself to be our guardian. 

I am just amazed over and over how God uses those who are not the obvious choices to take a central role in His story.  Shepherds out in the field, doing their daily and nightly job – just being there with the sheep are such a beautiful comparison of what God is to us.  Have you recognized your shepherd lately in your life?

The Sheep in the Yard on the way to a Halfway Visit

A few days ago my mother and I pulled out the driveway in Iowa at about the same time my dear friend and little boy were pulling out of her driveway in Ohio.  We were both heading to a meeting spot, about halfway between our two places, in Champaign, Illinois.  Starting out with coffee cups full, yogurts packed for breakfast a little later, we turned up the Mandisa CD and started down the road.

Following the highway, it was a great time to take in the scenery and enjoy the season.  One of the spots I enjoyed the most was the house with sheep in the yard.  There is a house, on the right side of 74 heading East, that has a fenced in yard.  In the yard, there are several sheep.  They lay around a pond,  standing by the driveway, nibbling on the grass behind the house.  Part of me loves the idea of stepping out in the morning and being greeted by the baaah’s of black and white wooly creatures.  Oh, I know that they would have to be cleaned up after, and would certainly mess up the grass.  But, wouldn’t it be fun to see! 

As I said, we were headed to Champaign for a halfway visit.  There are times when even a short visit can be a refreshing time.  Even a few hours to laugh and relax with someone you can be yourself with, can be warming and soothing.  Just ten days before the retreat.  I will hold on to the eclectic joy of sheep in the yard and the joy of a friend’s hugs and laughter.  I make a choice to continue to work to maintain the realization of the important, not just the urgent. 

And We’re Walking….

A favorite TV show of mine has a spoof on museums in one scene of one show, where the guide in a too perky, too highly pitched, too perfectly rehearsed voice stops everyone at an exhibit to explain, and then it’s “and we’re walking”.  With that much information being thrown at them, in a perfectly rehearsed and modulated way, the people pretty much follow – such a nice little tour group, behaving themselves so well.   They are behaving as such a nice little herd of sheep.

Sheep???  Yes – sheep! 

Even though I find this perky museum tour giver rather annoyingly funny, she gives a great example of leading a group of sheep.   Leaders of sheep, leaders of people: both have a big responsibility to get the facts right, to lead well, because all too often we sheep just follow blindly.  Well, not so much blindly as with blinders.  Think about the last time you went to a museum, how much do you remember of the exhibits?  How much information did you take in? 

God doesn’t ask us to follow him with blinders, instead we are reminded over and over how good it is to ask for wisdom and understanding.  Now – we are at Day 16 before the Great Banquet.  I said yesterday that I was asking to be cleansed from the inside out.  Cleansing strips away impurities and now, I’m asking God to help this sheep know what to be ready to add to the packing list.  You see, sometimes we are protected by not knowing or are being prepared for something else later  - like those blinders, but being made to wait and being prepared do not put a limit on what God wants me to see.  Day 16, I’m asking God to add into me what I will need before I go to the Great Banquet.  That the wrong blinders will be taken away and the right focus will be given instead. 

I think about the men that are mentioned in Matthew 9: 27 – 31.  Setting the scene – Jesus has arrived in his home town.  Since showing up he has healed a paralyzed man, eaten with a tax payer, taught the disciples a lesson on fasting, healed a woman who touched his cloak, and raised a little girl from the dead.  As you might imagine, even without modern news networks, internet, phones, blogs, or texts, this kind of news traveled pretty fast.  Can you just imagine – neighbors telling neighbors, in the market place – “Did you hear about…”  Can you just imagine the families of the affected people?  And the little girl who was brought back from the dead, it says her father was a ruler.  So, the servants heard as well.  Some of them may have even been there the moment life came back to her body!   With all of that going on, two blind men followed Jesus.  Maybe someone guided them, maybe they moved with canes and care – I don’t know.  But, I do know that they asked with belief that the Lord would heal them  - and he did! 

I love taking pictures, taking in scenery and sights, seeing the faces of the people and furry creatures I love.  I don’t know what it would be like to be blind.  But, I can imagine how exciting it would be!  Maybe the first few minutes the light seemed overwhelming, colors were perhaps overwhelming for a while.  I wonder what the first thing they saw was, maybe the face of Jesus, their guide, the ground, the sun?  I don’t know.  But, I can imagine how precious that memory would be to them.  I’m asking God to remove my own blinders, to heal my “eyes” (my spiritual view) so that I may see clearly and see what He wants me to see.