1 John 3:18
"My dear children, let's not just talk about love, let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly; living in God's reality."
A Shepherd cannot tend the flock from a far off post and then use a microphone or megaphone to yell directions at the sheep. The key tool for a Shepherd is the staff: a tool that implies action, not just talk; a tool that suggests getting intimate among the sheep.
People are like sheep in many ways. "Instead of just words, people respond best to someone who is willing to come beside them and offer a helping hand, a listening ear, or a hug." (Susan Reed, d365.org) To shepherd means a willingness to get involved in the lives of the sheep. How often do we want to shepherd with megaphone or wallet - a quick word of advice and a dollar slipped in here and there - such "action" doesn't demand much investment, our 'staff' doesn't get dirty! Our shepherding love will mean so much more if it is shown with actions, not just words. Listen to the sheep. Hear their concerns. Work beside them. Shepherd using the staff. Shepherd AMONG the sheep.
Being a missional church in community has a lot in common with shepherding our flock of sheep. Being missional is working AMONG the sheep. How are we doing? What are we doing? Maybe we need to know our sheep better. That could be step one.
Ginger, at first, your drawings were delightful but now, with your attached narrative, your drawings are a revelation!
ReplyDelete"a quick word of advice and a dollar slipped in here and there" we church folks like that way of mission. "7 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints" (Eph 1:17–18)
We were called "for the sake of the world". As you have said "Being missional is working AMONG the sheep" and in doing so, we claim our glorious inheritance.
I swear I hear the wind rushing!!
Jim