As I write this I am sitting at home and absorbing the quiet of this hour. I am alone. I enjoy this time. I sit quietly, and monitor the morning. I see it modify itself as the minutes progress. I observe the headway of the horses, and the cows. I catch a glimpse of movement further down the fields and I see a large white dog running in attempts to guide sheep as they graze.
He watches them and moves around them and on occasion stops to look yonder. He is the shepherd of these sheep; their sentry. He has to be their safeguard as the sheep are oblivious to their surroundings. They are inattentive and preoccupied in their feeding.
As I watched this my mind began to ponder and it was one of those moments of personal recognition. “The Lord is my shepherd…” and I’m so glad he is. It is he who guides me, cares for me, protects me and loves me. Isaiah wrote, “Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.” Isaiah 4:10-11
Yes, he is powerful, but he is also careful and gentle as a shepherd to his flock. The Psalmist called him a shepherd. John described him as the good shepherd. The book of Hebrews notes him as the Great Shepherd and 1 Peter calls him the Chief Shepherd.
Now as I watch the large white dog move his flock down the fields, I am more observant of what he does. He begins to circle around them and they begin to move towards the area he guides them to. He is patient going around and around making sure he doesn’t leave one behind. Yes, “the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3
It is a good morning; a time to reflect and have my inner soul restored and peace of heart revived of all that preoccupied me earlier.
ritasalomon 