We were invited to a wedding in Meeker, a more remote area of Colorado. Because I love to get on water whenever I can, I always take my inflatable kayak, just in case. At the hotel we learned of Lake Avery. Oh boy! We made the drive to this lovely body of water nearly a mile long, quite wide and very deep, nestled down in the midst of bald hills with a little scrub oak scattered on the terrain. A beautiful day for a cruise in my little yellow craft.
I launched at one end and began my tour of Avery. There was hardly a soul on the water, but a few fisher people on the edge. I decided to see if I could paddle the whole length. About halfway I noticed at the other end a bunch of blonde rocks. Curious, I had to see what they were. Looking back, I could no longer see my husband or even the truck. Committed, I went on and in a little while I heard bleating sounds. Looking around I could not discern where it was coming from because sound echos on water, especially with hills all around.
As I got closer to the end I noticed the rocks were moving and to my wonderment, were actually sheep. Really? I certainly did not expect to see sheep out here. They spread across the hill. One ewe would move and some would follow. Then another of these wooly creatures would hike in a different direction followed by still others. There was no real leader. No one sheep had any sense of direction. Some came down the hillside to drink of the cool water. Others wandered away from the crowd. It was confusion in some ways, aimless, but whichever of them was moving would cause others to move, also. Kind of like my trying to explain it, nonsensical.
Fascinated, I floated for awhile watching and listening to the random bleating. The sheep became more and more separated and spread over the entire slope. After several minutes I heard a human voice call out what sounded like “Go on!” and suddenly they all began to move in an orderly fashion in the direction the voice indicated. Each time the herdsman called, they responded in obedience, without resistance asif they knew they needed this guidance.
I sat in my gently rocking boat captivated by this scene. It seemed pretty clear that the shepherd cared about his flock and it was obvious they respected and trusted their leader. I continued watching in amazement as he gently, yet firmly directed them. In a short time the flock that had been wandering directionless was gathered in a close group again and moving to where their protector desired them to be.
As I turned for the long paddle back I pondered about the caretaker of the sheep and if he had to defend them against dangers such as snakes, coyotes, dehydration; if he had to attend to their wounds. He certainly had to keep them from their willful ways. I bet he even had to search for a lost one now and then. I also wondered what commitment to his flock cost him personally. Perhaps many cold nights in the mountains away from the comforts of home, so he could provide the sweetest grass for grazing and crystal clear streams to quench their thirst. Or the risks to his own safety keeping the sheep from harm when a wild predator attacked.
This pondering took me to a passage in the Bible, “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me…I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary…My sheep recognize my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life.”
I am a sheep. I go my own way or follow some other sheep. I get distracted, or confused. I wander off, even get lost and lose connection with others. I become oblivious to danger. But my Good Shepherd knows me and always calls for me. No matter what I have done, He comes to find me. His care for me has cost Him everything. I know His voice and obediently follow Him because He is trustworthy. I know I need His guidance and protection from my willful ways. He knows exactly what I need. He leads me to green pastures and clear, still waters to restore me. He gently tends to my wounds and shields me from danger. He gives me real and everlasting life. I truly want to be where He desires me to be. There is comfort and peace when I am in the Shepherd’s Presence.
What about you? Do you know the Good Shepherd? He knows you.