“Then Jesus told them this parable: Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.” Luke 15:3-6
Do not get me started on sheep, because I absolutely love them! I can totally relate to sheep. One of my most favorite images of Our Lord is Jesus, The Shepherd. In fact, I will go so far as to say I have a personal relationship with Jesus and three of His sheep. I have names for them! Two of them I endearingly call “The Lost But Found” and “The Lover Of Life.”
Because of my love for all animals, throughout my “Journey Through The Stillness” (my personal spiritual journal shared publicly on Facebook), Jesus has used them to get my attention, and to guide and instruct me. One time, (Stillness entries of July 1 & 2, 2010) I was looking at my figurine of Jesus The Shepherd and three sheep, and was longing to be the sheep held in His arms. And I told Him so! He let me know, in no uncertain terms, that this particular sheep had been tested in the fire. He said, “It was lost and now needs all the love and reassurance I can give it.” Then He asked me if I wouldn’t rather be the sheep at His feet, basking in His Love. He said, “Which is it you desire; to be tested, lost, and found, or to be secure in the fold?”
I have to admit, I was not prepared to answer that question. I have always prayed to never be separated from Him, and yet, the thought of ‘being found’ stuck with me. How wonderful it could be to be found! Even the next day, when I entered into The Stillness, I was not ready to answer the question. In reality, by this time, I was exhausted from pondering it within me. It was not the being tested and being found that disturbed me. It was the being ‘lost‘, separated from Our Lord. I kept thinking, “What if I can’t get back to Him? What if I can’t be found?
I am terrified of being apart from Him because He is my every hope, my guide, my solace. In the end, it was in my exhaustion that I found my answer to the question. I finally surrendered completely to Him saying, “Do with me as thou will.” At once there was relief, for now it was out of my control. I find I no longer desire control. Everything is better when He is in control.
By the way, if you are wondering about the third sheep, I lovingly call him, “The Defender.” But, that is a whole different post for another time! (Also, my “Journey Through The Stillness” can be accessed on Facebook through this post’s page at the right.)
Let us pray the 23d Psalm: The LORD is My Shepherd
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
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