I believe there comes a time in everyone's life when something or someone turns it upside down. And for me, this month, it's been the sheep. You see, this month, I have been living on an Albanian farm (also a summer camp) doing odd, but very necessary jobs, to get things cleaned up, fixed, and looking pretty. Odd jobs like scrubbing the grout of a pool back to its pearly white finish, or painting a chicken coup, or moving cement chunks into a trailer to be hauled off the property, or maybe you're one of the lucky ones who gets to spend your time sitting in a pasture with a bunch of sheep.
"What's so great about sitting in a pasture and watching sheep?" you may ask. There is something about sheep that is unlike any other living creature. They're incredibly dumb, and easily manipulated. All they do is eat, poop, and reproduce. But, multiple times in the bible, we are referred to as sheep, and Jesus is our shepherd. The bible doesn't say that we are dumb and easily manipulated, but it does say that we are dependent upon our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And that's exactly how it ought to be.
"God, soak my heart in gasoline. Light a match and watch me burn for you." That has been my prayer ever since I got to spend an afternoon with the sheep on the farm.
A few of us took some time to name a few of the sheep (two of which were
slaughtered RIP). This one is Patsy. She's not the most well behaved,
but we love her.
A few of us took some time to name a few of the sheep (two of which were
slaughtered RIP). This one is Patsy. She's not the most well behaved,
but we love her.
Sheep are not the most fun animals to be around. To be honest, they're boring. They don't do anything worth watching. But there is something about these sheep. They are the "rejects" and therefore have been given to the ministry we have been working with. And there's something about rejects that I just can't seem to let go. If this concept had feet, it would have kicked me in the face.
We, as Christians, are rejected all the time by people all over the world. Yet we still follow our Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Why? Because we love him. Because we trust that what he has for us, wherever we go, is going to be the best thing. Because all we want is to be with him and in his presence, because that's what makes us feel safe. I finally get it. I finally see why we are compared to sheep. Do you?
