sheepDear God,

Today, finally, visit to Doctor and drainage tubing removed.  There was a quick jerk by Dr. Fitz and then a stinging that only lasted a minute or so.  Now I have some very vague idea of how a person with an appendage to their body might feel restricted and burdened.  I still have surgical tape on the scar and my mid-section feels somehow very vulnerable without the huge swaddling of gauze and cotton that had covered it.  Just the coolness of fresh air felt invasive.

The gospel today speaks of we human beings as sheep in need of our shepherd…..an interesting analogy as the nature of sheep is that they are easily frightened and wandering animals needing to be taught where to go, what to avoid and how to obtain their food.  The only difference – seems to me – is that we human beings think we are NOT sheep.  We tend to think that we alone have the necessary power.  At least that is until, like sheep, we become frightened, lost, confused about where we are going or lose our self-sufficiency and need food and shelter.  Then is when we remember we need a leader….a shepherd.  I try very hard to remember to seek MY Shepherd (You, God) in advance of such conditions.  Nonetheless, I am often and repeatedly guilty of taking control of the reins of my own life and getting myself in trouble.  That’s rather insane behavior (repeating the same actions expecting different results) and definitely sheepish!

God, I surrender to You my entire life.  O, God of my understanding, I have made a mess of it, trying to run it myself.  You take it, the whole thing, and run it for me, according to Your will and plan.  Amen.