Solomon’s basic message today is: “Sometimes we need to be lifted up and carried for awhile.”
It is that time of year again when change is in the air we breathe. And sometimes change can be disquieting, sometimes exciting, and almost always means we have to change our pattern of behavior. . . or thought . . . or sometimes basically everything.
At TSJ headquarters, the gazebo that is put up on the deck each Memorial Day weekend and taken down on Labor Day, is now dismantled and sitting in storage.
The shadows of our trees are once again getting longer each day.
The sun’s rays have a deeper golden hue.
The sounds of earth have changed. Even the bird songs sound different.
It is clear that fall is basically here.
It is clear that life always brings change.
Of course, we like some changes but some are very, very difficult. All change requires adjustments– like the GPS voice that says, “recalculating” when we miss a turn..
Sometimes we really need to be like small children who are lifted up to sit on their parents’ shoulders. Like them, we need a broader view.
And some days we really need to be carried.
Today in our local area of Rochester, NY, there is sadness. thousands mourn the death Daryl Pierson, a young police officer who was a husband and father of two small children. He was shot and killed a week ago by a felon. This loss to his family and friends and community mirrors the sadness that we often feel in our own lives as we face things that challenge our faith and sense of security.
Solomon is right. We all need to be lifted and carried sometimes.
SJ was having a bad day too. He was unusually sad this morning.
Besides the seasons changing and kids going back to school, SJ is sensing a lot of change in the TJS headquarters. There are now constant doctor visits for Mr. Tom and lots of extra conversations he does not understand but they sound less playful than what he likes. He snuggled up to Solomon and started talking.
He told Solomon he is unhappy the gazebo is down. He liked summer in the gazebo as there were many special times there.
But what was really making him sad was a beautiful little chickadee died. It flew into the window and fell onto the deck. SJ added, if the gazebo had been up that would not have happened. He did not understand why the gazebo had to be taken down and a birdie had to die.
Solomon loving listened to SJ’s sad story. Then he said this,
“I know. Some things just make no sense to us, SJ.
But it is because sheep have limitations in understanding.
You see, we real sheep have eyes that see movement but not what is moving so we easily panic. Sheep have poor depth perception and easily fall into dips in the ground. We are really quite low-to-the ground animals. So our vision is limited.
We simply are not meant to understand things we cannot see. We must depend on our shepherds to watch over us and carry us when necessary. The bird’s death makes no sense to us but we can feel the love of Ms. Margie and Mr. Tom for the birds and for us.
Sigh. I am now old and I see that even peeps have limited vision too.
Like us, they sometimes do not understand things. They also have limited vision (even if it is better than ours). They too forget they have a peeps’ Shepherd who carries them like they carry us when we need it.”
Solomon is right. We forget.
But picturing ourselves being lifted is a great visual. Climbing on something gives us a broader vision. (We can be pretty low-to-the ground folks too.)
Like SJ, I needed Solomon’s wisdom this morning. But now I think I can see farther as I remember being lifted up in times past by the Unseen One.
What do I see? … laughter and joy and dancing out in the distance.
There is room for both laughter and tears in our days so long as we remember we are lifted and carried when we ask.
Solomon says “Now go play in the pastures knowing you will be carried when necessary!”
