From the Voice of An Ancient Shepherd…
These days are times of stress, overwhelm, and fatigue for many, many parents. Finding pe
ace and comfort can be difficult.
There are so many voices to listen to that tell us how we should think, what we should do, how we should parent etc. in order to be balanced, successful, patient and in control.
Who would think to listen to a shepherd’s voice?
Many of the voices from the personal development field are “spot on” and helpful. I too believe in the power of mind, body and brain connection through positive thinking and wellness practices.
Still, when life throws us curve balls and our spirits get challenged, we long for
food for the soul.
We need something that will hold us in sacred protection.
We want to feel safe, to feel hope, and to find meaning. We want something of substance to sustain us when we cannot think clearly or when we feel like we are hanging on and at “the end of our rope.”
During one such time in my life was when our niece, Lisa (24), was found unconscious over a sixty-foot embankment. She had a brain aneurysm while driving and her life was in peril.
As you can imagine, we did not draw our strength from positive thinking, vision boards, or affirmations.
We needed and found comfort wherever we could, mostly from our faith and our love for each other.
A curious thing happened. . .
A book about shepherding literally fell into my hands when I was packing to go to the hospital and looking for a book about the brain. Until then I had NO idea of what a shepherd in ancient times and arid lands did. It just looked peaceful and romantic. Think again! It is a lot like parenting.
It talked about the biblical song, The Twenty-Third Psalm, often called the shepherd’s song (psalm), apparently written by David who spent years being a shepherd before he became a warrior and king. I was very familiar with the 23rd Psalm.
However, reading about shepherds helped me read this psalm through new eyes. I could see predators after my sheep. I could hear it through a shepherds voice, and I could hear the sheep bleating and the shepherd talking with them.
Since then, I have read every book on the Twenty-Third Psalm I can find as well as magazines about sheep!
I quietly told about it to Lisa as she was recovering and it brought her great comfort, as
it did to me. In the night when her parents took vigil, twice she stirred and said, “Aunt Margie told me about shepherds and sheep. It was very nice.” Then she drifted off into peaceful sleep.
Could you use a little comfort to sustain you right now? I would love to point you to this ancient poem that is filled with metaphors and meaning.
But just for this reflection, I will mention three things David said (and believe me, he had a tough life).
1. We cannot do the journey alone. And we don’t have to. We have a Divine Shepherd known as I AM (or God or Source etc.). Because of this we have no lack for a resource to handle this moment now. “I AM” is always in the present moment. “The Lord is my Shepherd.”
2. We are never alone. Ever. The Shepherd is with us just like the shepherd in the field goes with the sheep through the valleys to get to the higher ground for summer feeding. The valleys are often treacherous and frightening and shepherd, David, knew that trek well. He also knew he was not alone, nor did he leave his sheep alone. (Sound like parenting?)
3. Goodness and mercy will follow us. We may not feel it or see it that way at the time, but it is all good when we keep going forward one step at a time in faith. We leave behind us a trail that will help others. But the Divine Shepherd who dwells within us is our personal GPS and will lead us home. Home is where the heart is. Our faith always brings us back to the heart.
As I watched Lisa heal from the loving, attentive care of her parent shepherds as well as her husband and sister, I grew to see this psalm as a 10 step plan that can help parents find meaning in the mundane and courage in chaos.
I saw the value of faith and faithfulness of parent-shepherds who were present for her even when it was so hard. Love is like that.
May you hear the Shepherd say:
~ you are guided,
~ you are not alone
~ “goodness and mercy” will follow you as it is the trail you will leave for your children
to follow.
This kind of comfort comes from faith and faith is the ability to see the invisible truths of the universe. Remember, in The Little Prince, we learn that “Only with the heart can one see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Keep the faith and feel the comfort!
Margie