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You’ve Been Flocked!
John 10:1-10
Acts 2: 42-47
Well this sure is an interesting flock.
It is much bigger than the flock I was in before. Not too small – not too big. Small enough so that we all know each other – and not so big that we get lost in the crowd. Everyone has been very friendly since my friends and I were traded for some pottery and purple dye and brought into this flock. I still can’t quite believe that the ten of us were traded for those pieces of pottery and some purple dye!
Our previous shepherd was quite the character. I was never sure where his head was at – and we never were quite sure if he even liked us or not. Sometimes I thought we were just in his way – that we were just an afterthought in his mind. One day we were out on the hillside and he just left us there for awhile. Yup – just disappeared on us. We couldn’t see or hear him. He had been gone awhile when we all sensed that a thunderstorm was approaching. It was still far away – but we could all hear it and the anxiety just rippled through the flock and it’s those moments whether inside the pen or outside in the pasture, that we really needed a shepherd. And once again he wasn’t there to calm us down or give us any direction. He was just never there when we needed him. So we didn’t know what to do and just as the clouds were about to open up on us– the shepherd finally came running up the hill. However get this – he was yelling at us. Yelling at us – as if it was our fault! And whenever he got like that – it just made things worse. I hated it when his voice rose to that level. First it would start quivering and shaking – so we would start quivering and shaking – and then he would yell at us and that would put us all in a panic. One time when he was yelling at us, my friend Mindy ran off because she was so scared. She was in such a panic that she bolted. And you know what? He didn’t even go after her. He just rounded us up and herded us off. And I was so sad – I kept looking back for her. I missed her. For awhile I would bleat and bleat and bleat – sometimes into the night - hoping she might hear us and find us again. Eventually I stopped trying. I really don’t think he was meant to be a shepherd – because he cared more about himself than about us.
But then he traded us and the new shepherd brought us here. Imagine my surprise to find Mindy here in this new flock! Yup – we had been here just a few days after the trade and I bumped into her and it was a joyous reunion. I almost didn’t recognize her because she was nice and plump and her little ears – well they were perky and pink which matched her little pick nose. But then there were her eyes – something about her eyes were really different. I think they were finally calm and at peace. Mindy said that this shepherd had that calming effect on everyone in the flock.
Mindy filled us in about the new shepherd and how she got here. Apparently she was in such state of anxiety that she panicked and ended up on a ledge – and she almost went over the edge but she didn’t and she was just stuck there for a couple of days – and she cried and cried. But then this new shepherd spotted her and began to climb down and around the trees and out onto the ledge. This was the first time that he began to reassure her - telling her over and over that all would be well. And she calmed down a little bit – and then he reached her and just scooped her up into his arms and carried her back to this flock. Mindy said that there was nothing more reassuring – than being held in the arms of this shepherd and she has been here ever since.
And I’ve noticed that he is quite the shepherd and everything about him indicates that he was born for this job.
When we first got here I couldn’t get over the accommodations. What a pen! There must be a hundred of us in here…but you would never know it. It’s a well built pen with walls of solid rocks all around us…and the shepherd puts brambles and branches all over the top of the walls to keep wild animals out when we are inside. But then you know what he does? I had never seen this before. He sleeps across the gateway at night. He lies right down there across the entranceway and no one can come in or out unless they go through the shepherd. He is the gate. It’s so comforting to see him there at the gate. I have noticed that there is an underlying sense of trust within this flock - so that when some of us do have moments of anxiety and fear - whether it’s inside the pen or outside in the pasture – that sense of trust and faith surrounds us. And I also come to trust his voice and you know - I would follow him anywhere.
Today however is a new day and something really interesting is happening here within the flock. Someone new is being welcomed into this flock – I don’t know where this guy came from because he sure doesn’t look like the rest of us. This seems highly unusual to me.
He’s a nice looking fella –but his hair is a totally different color and texture than ours. Ours is kind of wooly and coarse – but his is silky and smooth. And his hair is golden and very shiny. And his bleat sounds more like a bark. So I guess he is a sheep of a different color. There is something about him though – that seems to make people want to reach out and hug him. I’ve never seen people drop their defenses so easily and go over and give him a big old hug. And then people just start talking as if they’ve all been best friends for life. Well it is highly unusual to see him here - but most likely this fella will feel right at home within this flock.
This really is an interesting flock. Members of this flock are unique but they sure are a lovable bunch.
Take for an example that group of the flock over there with the different color coats – the ones with the blue wool. They sure are a happy bunch – always singing and making music which makes people smile and inspires them. As a matter of fact – I’ve noticed that all kinds of folks, young and old, in this flock make great music and you never know who might just start singing or playing am instrument – because not all of them wear blue - although one of them plays the blewes (blues) – and sheep really like the blewes. And here you just never know who might break out into song. They are a very infectious bunch – because whenever they start singing – everyone else joins in and the flock is encouraged, inspired and strengthened.
And then there are the little lambs. They are everywhere – they sing, they ring, they talk, they cry, they laugh, they run around and they ask lots of questions. They are so cute but they are really full of energy and enthusiasm and I sure am glad we have so many little lambs within this flock. But have you noticed how fast they all grow up? For example that young one over there he was recently baptized and it seems as if it was just yesterday that he was born and dedicated. And before you know it he will be driving and then go off to college. I hope he is careful when he gets his driver’s license – because I’ve become quite attached to him and all the other youthful lambs. We have a rather large extended flock.
Well then there’s that young family who just came back from vacation. I’ve been wondering how their trip was and hoping they had a good time and took lots of pictures. And of course there is the mother who had to go on a business trip this week and I bet it was exhausting and I know she had to leave her kids at home. I sure hope she had a good business trip - but I bet she’s glad to be home safe and sound. And then there is the gentleman who has to travel all the time and it seems like he is always flying off to Texas. I hear they have a lot of sheep in Texas – he is really lucky to have so much business down there.
And then look at that young, spry and cute couple over there. He was really worried about his mother this week – because she fell down the stairs while we were here in the pen last week. But God was with her – and she didn’t break anything and got some stitches in her head. There are a lot of people in this flock who are really worried about and praying for their parents or for their children. Many of us have that in common – and so we worry for each other and we pray for each other. And when one member of the flock rejoices – we all rejoice with them as well.
Speaking of rejoicing – there sure is a lot of rejoicing that goes on in this flock and a lot of it has to do with eating. Take for example last weekend I found myself giving thanks for just being one of the sheep – because the poor chickens and the pigs were done for all in one fell swoop; chicken saltimbocca last Friday night and a ham and bean supper on Saturday. It’s good to be a sheep. Our cup overflows.
It’s good to be a sheep. And it’s good to be a part of this flock. Not too small – not too big. Small enough so that we all know each other – and not so big that we get lost in the crowd. It is good not to go through life alone. The shepherd of this flock was also born for the job and it is He and only He to whom we focus our attention and to whose voice we rely on. It is He and only He who holds this interesting, diverse and lovable bunch of sheep together whether it is here in the pen or when He calls us out into the pasture to do His work.
There is an underlying sense of trust amongst this flock, so that when there are moments of anxiety and fear (and there are) or moments of loss and sadness (and there are) that sense of trust and faith is strong. We recognize the soothing voice of the shepherd when we sit by our green pastures, or the still waters and even by the valley of the shadow of death.
It is good to be a sheep. It is good to follow the Shepherd who came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly. It is good to be a part of this flock. Amen.
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