My brother returned from South Africa yesterday after spending ten days in Capetown and Johannesburg working with nonprofits. If you're friends with him on facebook, be sure to check out his pictures. He is a pretty good photographer...much better than I am :-).
Yesterday, I had an opportunity that I have not frequently had in the past two years...the opportunity to go to church and not be in such a state that I fall asleep in the middle of it. Maybe it's due to so often feeling "left out" of such things in the past two years that I am now enjoying it so much, but some things really stuck out to me yesterday that I feel compelled to blog about.
Here's my disclaimer: The words I post are my own thoughts (as uninformed as they perhaps might be) not meant to be the fuel for any argument or dispute.
The scripture yesterday was John 10: 1-18. You can look that up on www.biblegateway.com if you'd like. It's where Jesus compares Himself as shepherd and the people in the world as His sheep. As a child, I was always taught that Jesus is the good shepherd and we are His sheep. That's simple enough. However, Sunday I saw the first verse in that passage which reads, " “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber." John 10: 1. All my life I've been comparing myself to a sheep, and that's what I would strive to be. However, far too often, I relate myself more to the robber or thief. When the robber or thief comes in, the sheep scatter in fear. They know better than to trust that guy. Well, sometimes, I feel like I have the attitude equivalent to that of a robber or thief. At times, it is my notion to have a very sour attitude towards people in general. Having that kind of an attitude towards people does not incline anyone to follow the "Good Shepherd". It does not further the kingdom of God in anyway whatsoever. Putting on a cynical, at times ruthless, attitude towards people is easy. It's easy to wall myself off to a point where people can't get to me, where you can say what you want but it doesn't matter because I really don't care enough to even take it into consideration...where the herd can't reach me either for that matter....but the Shepherd can. I can hide from people, but I can't hide from Him. Right now, I feel like every day is a challenge not to be that robber or thief who sabotage's the Shepherd's efforts...or the things He has given me in my life. I'm thankful for the people in my life who have put forth effort to keep me connected in some way. Your efforts aren't fruitless.
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