The Lord is my shepherd.......

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Green pastures.  Still waters.  Rest and respite.  Protection by the Good Shepherd.  These are wonderfully powerful images.  We can picture the Good Shepherd cradling the little lamb (while surrounded by perfectly clean sheep!) in his arms - cradling us in his strong arms, in comfortable safety.


When Jesus says, "I know my own and my own know me: we are flooded with the relief of no longer being alone, out there in the world making our own way, fighting off the wolves for ourselves.  Now we belong to a flock, and not just any flock but the flock that is watched over by the Good Shepherd.  Someone else stands guard; someone else is tasked with being vigilant.  We can, finally, rest.........and have our souls restored.  Both the young and the dying find deep comfort in the promises embedded in this image.....

....although those 'in between', that is, in between the innocence of youth and the final call of death are challenged by the simplicity of it all.  We know that life is a lot more complicated than this.  There are wolves attacking the flock; there are huge patches of dead grass; the waters are polluted and frankly, the shepherd is so busy playing Angry Birds that she has no idea what's going on.  Jesus calls this inattentive, cowardly shepherd a 'hired hand.'  We call her the Congress or our boss or our neighbor or sometimes even a family member.  Disease and disaster, hunger and sorrow are not erased; the green pastures are not paradise.

Today, as we begin the work week, as we take up again the burden of responsibility, as we put one foot in front of the other, let us hold fast to this image of the Good Shepherd cradling us in his arms, protecting us from all harm and danger.  Tomorrow we will do the hard work of considering whether these green pastures are our destination or simply a rest stop along the way.

Today, eat a little green grass, drink from the cool refreshing water, bask in the sunshine, knowing you are his.