It is that time of the week for at least a short reflection. All “peeps” who hang out at TSJ on Wednesdays deserve at least a wee bit of something tasty or nourishing to graze on in the middle of your busy week!
Let’s be honest, no matter where we are in the pastures of life we all have “stuff” that gets in the way of our laughter and celebration. We need reminders to stop, breathe, get recharged and feel loved. Yes, feel loved.
And Solomon says that when have a masterful shepherd and feel loved way -down- deep, we can find comfort in the valleys where the shadows lurk about threatening us with the unknown. We can also find courage to take the next step when the next step is uncertain and our strength is minimal. We find our greatest confidence, however, when we become aware of the abiding Presence of our Shepherd. It is true for sheep and earthly shepherds. It is true for peeps and the heavenly Shepherd.
As you can see in the picture, “the boys” have been placed in their new Wednesday morning spot. SJ is snuggling next to Solomon who has the calm of that “peace that surpasses understanding” or defies explanation, and I am finding comfort in both of their reactions to the challenges we face here at the headquarters. We are hanging tough together.
By the way, because of you subscribers to TSJ, Tom and I have a lot of “SJ(s)” and “Solomon(s)” in our lives that keep us curious and smiling, and finding peace in the storm of Tom’s progressing cancer.
Even so, this week I have been feeling the heartache of watching someone I love suffer, and have had trouble sleeping. But because of that I discovered a new mantra. It worked wonders for me and applies to all sorts of situations you may be in too. So I decided to share it today.
Let me explain. Over and over throughout the scriptures we have been told to trust and not be afraid. Well, I don’t know about you, but that is very difficult for some of us sheep/peep types! Yet, I believe its truth and it came to me in a phrase which I repeated over and over one night when I was scared. Every single time I jumped ahead and worried about what might happen or what we should do about this or that, I just repeated this (in my mind) strongly.
“Have no fear. God is here.”
I wish I knew how to tell you the power of this awareness. I am sure we simply “do not get” how deeply loved we are. We also “do not get” how that tremendous Source of uncontaminated love and radical grace carries us.
But when I repeated it I experienced it. My fear truly abated.
Try it for yourself in the night when things are dark.
“Have no fear, God is here.”
It is worth repeating.
And because of being well-Shepherded, we can drop our fear and seize the moment to bask in uncontaminated love.
All I can say is, thank you Solomon for your ageless wisdom. So glad your earthly shepherd taught you so well and that translates for us the messages of the Unseen Good Shepherd for our souls.
Now, let’s get back to playing in the pastures.
Happy Shepherding!
