TUESDAY JULY 26, 2011
2:00PM
I heard a story from a friend, who'd heard a story from a shepherd.
Interesting folks, shepherds are. I don't happen to know any personally (very few do) but I'd still like to meet one someday. The story shines some light on Luke 15 and it goes a little like this...
A sheep takes off from the flock. The shepherd realizes it's gone and so he leaves the rest of the flock in search for the runaway. Once he finds the sheep he joyfully puts it around his shoulders and carries it home to the flock!
I'm sure you've heard the story, but stay with me because here's where things get interesting.
Apparently all of these sheep actually do know the voice of the shepherd and can at a basic level, understand that he is their protector. So whenever the shepherd arrives to rescue a wandering sheep, it immediately responds to him.
Now I know you've all seen the pictures of the fluffy little lamb wrapped around Jesus' shoulders (but I included one just in case) but have you ever really looked closely at that little lamb's leg? Probably not. You see, before the shepherd puts that little guy up around his shoulders, he first takes that lamb and snaps its leg clean in two, breaking it completely. I'm sure that sends a pretty powerful message to the sheep!
You see, that sheep isn't up there because the shepherd wanted a neck pillow to rest his head, no, it's up there for a different reason all together. With a broken leg, the sheep becomes all together dependent upon the shepherd; totally reliant upon him for everything.
Fast forward. The leg is healed and the sheep that once wandered is now the sheep who stays closest to the shepherd. Through out the duration of the sheep's injury it develops an irreplaceable bond with the shepherd. For weeks upon weeks it listened to the shepherds voice, hearing it directly inside of its own ears as it lay upon the shepherd's shoulders and the bond it developed will remain in tact long after it's leg heals (and now you know the rest of the story).
I don't know how many times I've broken my ankles. At least four times on each side. It's a mini-miracle I can even walk, yet I still play basketball. Eventually I learned I need to wear braces; the risk of injury is far too great if I don't.
Very recently I've discovered my instinctive motivation for following the God's instructions was based upon the same principle as my desire to wear my ankle braces; protection. And while protection is good, it's not always enough.
The problem with this is it refuses to take into account outside situations, circumstances and even feelings. For example, there are times when I just don't want to wear my braces, so I don't. I take a risk and gamble on outcome that isn't guaranteed.
Over the Fourth of July I had the opportunity to play ball again for the first time in what seemed like forever. It was great, but I was rusty. #TinMan
My shot wouldn't drop, I was missing layups and couldn't "thread the needle" with my passes like I used to be able to do. I'd spent too much time out of the game. I was so far out of the game I wasn't even in the gym, and my shot reflected it.
Sure, it's hard to make the shots you never take, but it's even harder to make those shots when you're not even on a court.
I know to continue to play the game I need to wear my braces. I also know I need to apply the lessons I learned on the bench listening to Coach out on the court with the rest of the team because there's nothing like sitting on the bench during the finals in a cast and a crutch.
2:00PM
I heard a story from a friend, who'd heard a story from a shepherd.
Interesting folks, shepherds are. I don't happen to know any personally (very few do) but I'd still like to meet one someday. The story shines some light on Luke 15 and it goes a little like this...
A sheep takes off from the flock. The shepherd realizes it's gone and so he leaves the rest of the flock in search for the runaway. Once he finds the sheep he joyfully puts it around his shoulders and carries it home to the flock!
I'm sure you've heard the story, but stay with me because here's where things get interesting.
Apparently all of these sheep actually do know the voice of the shepherd and can at a basic level, understand that he is their protector. So whenever the shepherd arrives to rescue a wandering sheep, it immediately responds to him.
Now I know you've all seen the pictures of the fluffy little lamb wrapped around Jesus' shoulders (but I included one just in case) but have you ever really looked closely at that little lamb's leg? Probably not. You see, before the shepherd puts that little guy up around his shoulders, he first takes that lamb and snaps its leg clean in two, breaking it completely. I'm sure that sends a pretty powerful message to the sheep!
You see, that sheep isn't up there because the shepherd wanted a neck pillow to rest his head, no, it's up there for a different reason all together. With a broken leg, the sheep becomes all together dependent upon the shepherd; totally reliant upon him for everything.
Fast forward. The leg is healed and the sheep that once wandered is now the sheep who stays closest to the shepherd. Through out the duration of the sheep's injury it develops an irreplaceable bond with the shepherd. For weeks upon weeks it listened to the shepherds voice, hearing it directly inside of its own ears as it lay upon the shepherd's shoulders and the bond it developed will remain in tact long after it's leg heals (and now you know the rest of the story).
I don't know how many times I've broken my ankles. At least four times on each side. It's a mini-miracle I can even walk, yet I still play basketball. Eventually I learned I need to wear braces; the risk of injury is far too great if I don't.
Very recently I've discovered my instinctive motivation for following the God's instructions was based upon the same principle as my desire to wear my ankle braces; protection. And while protection is good, it's not always enough.
The problem with this is it refuses to take into account outside situations, circumstances and even feelings. For example, there are times when I just don't want to wear my braces, so I don't. I take a risk and gamble on outcome that isn't guaranteed.
Over the Fourth of July I had the opportunity to play ball again for the first time in what seemed like forever. It was great, but I was rusty. #TinMan
My shot wouldn't drop, I was missing layups and couldn't "thread the needle" with my passes like I used to be able to do. I'd spent too much time out of the game. I was so far out of the game I wasn't even in the gym, and my shot reflected it.
Sure, it's hard to make the shots you never take, but it's even harder to make those shots when you're not even on a court.
I know to continue to play the game I need to wear my braces. I also know I need to apply the lessons I learned on the bench listening to Coach out on the court with the rest of the team because there's nothing like sitting on the bench during the finals in a cast and a crutch.