Good shepherd

John 10 : 1 - 18

I had an extra session of work this morning. When I walked into the consultation room I had a little surprise. The desk and chairs had been moved around. The nurse explained to me that my employer had done so over the weekend - as a result of consulting a 'feng shui' advisor! It didn't really bother me, except that I had to get used to the patient being seated on my left rather than on my right. A good change perhaps, to face left when dealing with a patient rather than to the right all the time. This practice of 'feng shui' is a reminder that people are searching for a "good shepherd', someone (or if not that, something) that can give them life, abundant life - which in this world, often translates into business success.

Jesus wants us so much to know him as the "Good Shepherd", one who loves sacrificially, in laying down his life. When I come to passages like this, the tendency is to quickly jump to how fragile my own affections are - how I fail to live under the guidance of my Shepherd. I may liken myself to a stubborn sheep who wanders off and gets into all sorts of trouble before being rescued by my Shepherd.

But I have come to realize that the aim of these passages is not first and foremost to evoke an assessment of ourselves. First and foremost, it is "good news", about the One who is much more than a moral teacher. The passage says "Look at who I am for you. Absorb this into your deepest being. Let it correct any images you have of me that are biased, based on the need to earn my love. This is who I am - a Shepherd who gives his life for you. Take in this amazing love first before you despair about how unworthy you are."

Dwelling long and deep upon this love is far more than the 'power of positive thinking'. It is getting in touch with a 'reality' that (although more 'real' than many messages we hear in this life) has a light and gentle touch, that can easily be drowned out by the loud voices we are more accustomed to.

Most sheep (the animal kind) I guess would willingly follow a shepherd who leads them to restful waters and provides green pastures. I hope as a 'human' sheep I would also trustingly follow the Good Shepherd who comforts me, even in the darkest of valleys.