The Good Shepherd

There’s kind of an unwritten rule of social etiquette … “You can’t give yourself your own nickname!”

It just doesn’t work! … They don’t stick. …  I guarantee you if I stood here & declared,

“Henceforth, I shall be known as … Capt. Awesome!” … Exactly zero people would start calling me Capt. Awesome.

You’d have a few names for me, for sure!  …. I bet those would stick! ….  That’s just the way nicknames work!

But we are going to see today in John 10 that Jesus is so amazing, He gives himself a nickname that has stuck for 2,000 years!

And I don’t think Jesus tried out a few before one stuck ….

He didn’t have a powwow with the apostles & think, “OK, fellas, how should I brand myself?" … “Should I wear a cape?”

He knew exactly who He was & exactly how people should see Him.

And I think if we fully grasp how Jesus is going to describe Himself today …

If we fully embrace the title we’re going to hear Jesus give Himself …

Then it answers what I believe is the most important question a person can ask. …

A question that … depending on our answer …. affects … everything we are …. & everything we do …

Seriously … Everything! …… But First …. Let’s Pray …

So we are at Chapter 10 now cruising through the book of John …

And it’s here that we see Jesus declare Himself as … “The Good Shepherd”

Now, I happen to have a personal affinity for the Name … I have some personal connections to this Title

See, my then fiancé, Kirstin, was the Education Director at a churched called, The Good Shepherd ….

We got married at The Good Shepherd …and after that I joined her in doing something she had already been doing for years …

Sponsoring kids to go to a school in Haiti called … The Good Shepherd.

Well, about 8 years ago we finally had the amazing opportunity to travel to that school in Haiti ... The Good Shepherd

I’ll never forget the first time we went … The Good Shepherd School is in a slum named Pele,

adjacent to the capital Puerto Prince.  .. I’ve had Haitians ask me before, “Pele? How do you get into Pele?” …

Well … the short answer is you have to know someone … 

When you’re going through Pele, what’s at first so shocking is that as far as the eye can see … all you see is rusted tin & plywood & loose block & fabric & cardboard & wire all assembled in such a way that one thing is leaning on the next.

Eventually we get to high cinder block walls & a big metal gate opened up for us to enter the Good Shepherd school grounds & then closes immediately behind us.

At first there was a thought of sadness that the gate & walls were there, but very quickly you learn the necessity of it ….

Outside the gate …. Chaos reigned … Inside the Gate there was order, but it was more than order vs. chaos.

Inside the gate of the Good Shepherd school you heard cheering, smiles all around!

There was an obvious joyous community in stark contrast to the despair seen just outside the gate.

And I’ll never forget … I had a large water bottle with me at my side …

I was swarmed by a large group of students and they pointed to the water bottle … (My Creole was & is still very limited) …

I opened the cap & started pouring a mouthful of water to as many as I could.

But what was striking was when my water bottle was empty, they kept clamoring for it … Particularly a kid named Ishmael!

So … I handed it over & he immediately threw it to the ground & they started playing soccer with it! …

It was incredible to see … Water bottle soccer! Who would have thought! And this kid, Ishmael, had ridiculous skills!

But they had nothing but each other & their teachers …. & the simplest of pleasures brought exhilaration!   

They just loved …. Everyone at the Good Shepherd just loved being at the Good Shepherd …

It was so obvious … Everyone inside the Good Shepherd knew  ….

They were someplace special inside that gate … they were loved! …

They were not only loved … They were cared for …

And that’s a thought I want to carry with us as we dig into John 10 …

I mentioned there was an important question we’ll get answered in the process.

So when Jesus introduces Himself as the Good Shepherd …

What’s this important question that creates new purpose and meaning to every day …

Well, the question we probably most often hear about God is … “Does God exit?” …

It’s an Ok question … but I think pretty irrelevant.

I think when we ask that question … what we really want to know is something much more profound.

I think what we’re truly curious about isn’t “Does God exist?”… but “Does God Care?”

See … If God doesn’t care …. Then who cares?!

If God is the proverbial “watchmaker” that just set the universe in motion & sits back & watches everything unfold however it goes,  then what’s the difference between Him & a 14 yr old boy ignoring his terrarium that he set up when he was 11!

If God doesn’t care …. then what does anything matter at all?!

But … if … God…  Cares …. Then Everything matters!!

Something as simple as watching one of our amazing sunsets is enjoyable because we are His creation watching His Creation & it never gets old!!

You realize that God didn’t have to give you senses, right?!

But a Caring Creator God gave me senses that He didn’t have to give me ….

So that I would be able to experience & behold His Beauty & His Wonder!

And if our Creator God who’s in control of every atom in the universe is a Caring, Personal God …

Then He cares about our days, … our relationships, … our conversations …. our work … our play …. Everything!

And when I embrace the idea of a God who Cares … for me & for you … then I embrace the understanding that …

God didn’t throw us all in a jungle to see who survives …. He placed us in a Garden so that we would thrive!     

And you know what breaks my heart?

Unfortunately, I’m afraid too many people … even Christians … live like God doesn’t really care about their days.

Just wake up in the morning … go through the day. Do what you gotta do. Go to bed. Get up the next day & do it all over again.

Too many people walk around living life like they’re stuck in that horrible 1990’s Bette Midler song, “From A Distance”!

Remember  that?  I’m not even going to try to sing it … but it went …From A Distance, God Is Watching Us, God is Watching Us,  God Is Watching Us, From A distance.  … It won Song  of the Year! … It’s horrible!!

Think about it! That is a creepy, creepy God! … Who wants a creepy God like that just watching us … “from a distance”?

Seriously, Bette Midler needs a restraining order on whatever God she’s talking about!

But think about … that’s how many of us live …. And that’s all every other religion has to offer!

Of all the world religions … only Christianity offers a personal … God Who Cares!

& when we get this, when we really grasp & embrace the true God who cares for us …

the only reasonable response … is worship.      

In fact, that’s what sparked this whole scene we are going to see in John 10 …

Jesus healed a blind guy … on the Sabbath … & the blind guy worshipped Him!

This ticked off the religious leaders & they kicked the healed guy out of the temple …

So, this Good Shepherd picture Jesus is going to give us launches from the religious people kicking out & Jesus gathering in …

This is important … the religious people are kicking out … & the Good Shepherd is gathering his flock …

So, that’s the players in the scene, the religious leaders, the healed man, & Jesus … but I think the setting is important, too …

Jesus is standing in the Collonade of Solomon …

It’s kind of a huge outdoor part of the Temple which is in the northern part of the city.

Guess which Gate to the city this was near?

Well … remember Nehemiah …. Nehemiah rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem, right?

All around the city of Jerusalem the wall is divided up by gates … a gate for horses … a gate for water … a gate for deliveries … … even at the very furthest southern end of the city there was a gate called The Dung Gate .. for guess what!

So when Nehemiah rebuilds the destroyed walls … which Jesus is standing inside of 450 year later …

Where does Nehemiah order the rebuilding to begin? ….

Look at this …. Neh 3:1 Then Eliashab the high priest & the other priests started to rebuild at the Sheep Gate

The Sheep Gate  … The beginning of renewal was where worship would take place.  … Restoration began at the Sheep Gate!               

See, the Sheep Gate of the city was where the sheep would be brought in for sacrifice.

So, this metaphor begins to take on even deeper meaning … 

This is the setting where Jesus starts talking about sheepfolds & a door & thieves  & strangers & robbers, & wolves & sheep only listening to the shepherd’s voice & only following the shepherd …

And Jesus doesn’t give any labels at first, though … He just paints a word picture …

And nobody’s getting it! … “Jesus, what are You talking about?!”    (Now that I say that outloud …..)

But this is all hugely important to Jesus … He really wants them to get this!

So, He says it again & this time He labels Himself  … & this is where we’ll pick it up at John 10: 7-11 & 18

⁷ So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out (go “in & out”, this is very Covenantal language Jesus is using here from Deuteronomy & Numbers & Psalms … God will be with His people & His people will be with Him”)

So he’ll be saved & go in & out … and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ….

¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Now, unless you grew up in church you probably don’t have too many conversations about sheep & shepherds.

In fact, I can’t remember even one time ever asking my boss “Can you be more like a shepherd to me?”

And if I ever referred to my colleagues in the office as “sheep”, it’d be the last time.  

But for those of us that grew up in church, we tend to romanticize the image of us being the sheep & Jesus being the Shepherd

“Aww … I'm His little lamb” .... No! … Wrong! … Jesus is clearly not calling His listeners cute & cuddly!

Being called a sheep is not a compliment. …  Sheep are, to be blunt, stupid animals …. They are utterly defenseless.

You have never heard of a pack of wild sheep. … Hogs can go wild …. Horses can go wild …. Sheep go dead!

Sheep without a shepherd aren’t wandering free … Sheep without a shepherd are a snack!

Sheep without a shepherd are just meat flavored popcorn for wolves! … That’s right, I called us meat flavored popcorn!

Seriously … Jesus is telling people … I am the Good Shepherd & without Me … You’re dead!

And that’s what He’s telling us … You have no life without Me. … There’s no hope for you without Me!

It’s only through Me that you actually enter into life ... But it’s life abundant... Full ... Eternal ... Forever in my presence ... Life!!!

And by the way, not only am I the Good Shepherd that leads you to the gate ...

I am the Gate! … I am the Sheep Gate! … When I lead you to the Gate … I lead you to Myself!

Now, … you may ask, …“But what if I don’t want a shepherd?” …. I hear you … Sometimes I don’t either …  But …

Having a shepherd is NOT a matter of want!

Having a shepherd IS a matter of need!

We don’t want a shepherd … we need a shepherd!   

We think life without a shepherd is about freedom …“I don’t want to be a sheeple!” … I’m an individual!

I want life on my own terms! … But be honest with yourself …. How’s life on your own terms really work out for you …

As much as we may not like or want to hear that there is only one Good Shepherd, frankly, I hope it brings sweet relief to you.

Because when we try to be our own shepherds … it only ends one way … disaster.

Thinking about this reminded me of a particular hike my family did in the NC Mountains. We were all at a beautiful little waterfall that flowed into an incredible swimming area … It was beautiful … down right magestic even!

We were even the only ones there in this spectacular piece of natural beauty & we were having a blast!

Well after a bit, I wanted to explore some … So, my sweet, kind hearted middle daughter, Sierra, & I go exploring ….

A little bit up the river we come upon some smooth rocks that the river is gently flowing over.

It’s a natural rick slide … I called Sierra over & said let’s slide down these rocks like a water slide!

Well, we sit at the top of the rock & down we go …. But when we get to the bottom & stand up, we look down at our legs & realize our legs are covered in black algae from the rocks.

And then when we start to splash off the algae we realize … the algae is all moving. … It wasn’t algae.

Our legs were covered in hundreds of leeches! … We freak out … We go running back to the deeper water …

I jump from a cliff into the depths …

It was a freak show disaster! … I had just lead my sweet, beautiful child into a pit of tiny squirming vampires!

(The counseling has really helped her!)

Now … I know that’s a goofy little story to illustrate a point …

But what if I had told my daughter her whole life … “I’m the Good Shepherd! Follow me, follow me, follow only me!”

She’ll eventually figure out that I’m a fraud & wander off to become her own shepherd.

Fortunately she’s knows there’s only one Good Shepherd … & Dad’s not it! … Dad’s gonna mess up sometimes!

And so is everyone else … including herself!

In fact, on a recent hike she decided she was gonna lead the path & she ended up stepping right on a snake!

But here’s what we have to realize … Here’s what I know about me & you …

If Jesus is God …. & He’s calling Himself the Good Shepherd …. Then … We were created to have a shepherd!

If we were created to have a shepherd … Guess what? …We WILL have a shepherd!  The only question is, “Is it the Good One?”

See, we want to be our own shepherd … and frankly, we’re just bad at it …

But we were designed to follow ... to pursue … to worship …

So, we'll pursue something ... Until we realize it's not everything we thought it would be...

And then we'll wander around … meat flavored popcorn … until something catches our eye or our mind or our affections

And before we know it ... We're not following it ... It's got ahold of us...

You’ve seen people do this … You’ve seen it happen to friends or family …. Or even yourself …

I shepherded myself right into that “beyond my means” lifestyle because I was finally going to be happy ….

But now I got that stack of bills growling at me every day like a wolf …   

Or, you know what I see all the time when people act like they’re their own Shepherd? …

I shepherded myself into a relationship & in the beginning ... It was great ...we were in love …. &

Now I've been living with the person for 5 years ... I don’t know what the future holds …

And I feel like part of my life has been “… stolen …”

Or how about …. I needed a little something to “take the edge off” … a little something to relax …

Now that edge isn’t off ... it’s crumbling … & what used to be about “relaxing” has turned into a habit …

You thought you could control what started so innocent but now … it’s “devouring” you...

You shepherded yourself right into a habit that has become a wolf…

It’s so easy to become a snack for wolves.... meat flavored popcorn …

We don't want a shepherd ... We need a shepherd...

You will have a shepherd … the only question is, “Is it a false shepherd or the Good Shepherd?”

So, you know what’s the difference between the false shepherds & the Good Shepherd? … The thief & the Good Shepherd?

The false shepherd will ultimately demand you lay down your life for it … the lifestyle … the relationship … the habit …

But The Good Shepherd  …. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for you!

And you know what? …  I think we can put the false shepherds under 2 big labels or categories …

I think what we find guiding us … leading us …. shepherding us down paths that we discover only later are “stealing .. killing … and destroying our life …” could be put in the big categories of WANT & FEAR …

When we’re not being led by the Good Shepherd, we’ll be led by … things we Want & … things we Fear

Or circumstances we Want … or circumstances we Fear …

And when we think about what consumes us … It’s our Wants & our Fears that end up controlling our life ….

I wanted more money … or I feared poverty …

I wanted a relationship … or I feared loneliness …

I wanted acceptance …. or I feared rejection ….

I want freedom … I fear surrender …

And it seems we want what is out of reach & we fear what is pushing in ….

And I think that’s why the most repeated command in the Bible is? …

And over 80 times it plainly states this  … to the Faithful … that repeated  command  … “Do not fear!”

My little one has some issues with fear, so we have a saying around our house for her

& I have to remind myself sometimes … “Persevere through the fear!”

Even in the context of Christ’s “Shepherdness” … look what He says in Luke 12

³² “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Fear Not … “But I’m broke!” … Fear Not … “But I’m lonely!” … Fear Not … “But what about? … Fear Not … Fear Not …

The Shepherd cares for us … God wants to give us the kingdom … But we have other wants ...

I guarantee you this, though ... Whatever you want ... God wants something better for you....

Augustine talked about this … this “what we want” vs. “what God wants for us” …. as the “ailment of inordinate desire”.

CS Lewis, of course, is the master of putting theological concepts in story form …

So, I love his words from his book The Weight of Glory regarding this when he says ....

It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. .... We are far too easily pleased.

So, don't miss experiencing life with God … because you were led by what you want … over what God wants for you.

Your wants are too small a thing to live for....

An interesting thing about the Good Shepherd …. He will lead us ... guide us.... shepherd us.... But He won't drag us!

He won’t force you to follow Him …. He won’t control you ….

So many people when they start pondering God, choose not to follow Him because they don’t want to be “controlled” by God

You know what demands control? … Religion, not God … Consider the conversation Jesus is having right here in John 10!

Who’s demanding control? … It’s the religious leaders! ….

But what does Jesus request? … Faith ... And what ultimately is faith? ... A surrendering of control.

So, two questions we always have to keep in mind … “What do I want?”  and “What do I fear?”

Is what I want drawing me closer to God? … Is what I fear keeping me from God?

See, what are we … as faithful Christians … supposed to be known for, anyway?!  …. Love, right?

So, let me ask you something, honestly assess yourself ... What are you more characterized by: “Wanting” or “Loving”?

What do you say more … "I want fill in the blank..." Or … "I love fill in the blank... "

If there was an app on your phone that had a little counter on it that monitored how many times you said

"I want that" vs "I love you" … What would win on any given day?

A little “head’s up” … if you have little ones around the house …. They are your app … they notice … Even the “big ones” do

So take notice during your days ... Why is this important?...

Because as sheep of the Good Shepherd … we shouldn't be focused on our lack … but on our love.

So, really ask yourself, “Do I feel secure with the Good Shepherd?”  … “Is the Good Shepherd enough for me?”

The Good Shepherd wants desperately for us to feel secure with Him

He says later in John 10 … keep this thought just ringing in your mind every day …

²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, …. and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Once the Good Shepherd has gathered you into His flock … He can’t let you go … He promises that …

So, ask yourself, really, “Am I a secure person?” …. And this is soooo important! …. Because ….

When you feel insecure, you want more.

When you feel secure, you love more.

You know this about people ….

A person who is insecure will want more.

A person who is secure will love more.

But you know what is amazing about our shepherd? …  He doesn’t just promise our “security” or to “save” us …

He promises “Saving and …”…“Life and …”

The Good Shepherd promises in John 10:10:

“I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.” … or you may have heard it “life to the fullest”

These are beautiful Words of God & I love them,

But I’m afraid what we love about John 10:10 .. “abundant life” … is what’s so dangerous about it, as well.

It’s so darn easy to make it mean whatever we want it to mean!

Ask as a 20 something what abundant life is & he’ll describe a Red Bull commercial …. Or maybe a GoPro commercial …

You know … something like … “I want to skydive out a plane & land on top of a hot air balloon & repel down to the basket & then bungee jump out of the basket with a kayak & then kayak over a waterfall! … That’s abundant life, bro!” #lifetothefullest

FYI … That’s not my wife’s version of abundant life!

Ask a 40 something mother & she’s more inclined to describe a Caribbean cruise commercial …

Or maybe a Corona commercial … “find your beach”!

Ask a 60 something what abundant life is & they’ll say “I don’t have to support my kids, anymore!”

So, what’s the point? … It goes back to the False Shepherd of “Want” …

We have turned “abundant life” into “whatever we want, whenever we want”!

We’ve turned “abundant life” into the grown up version of “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” …

You remember … give a mouse a cookie … he’s gonna want some milk … & then he’s gonna want a straw … & on & on …

You give a grown up a house … he’s gonna want a pool … & then he’s gonna want a boat … then he’s gonna want a bigger boat

And we know better than this for everybody else except ourselves.

But I’m afraid it’s even worse than “If You Give A Mouse a Cookie” …

Because it reminds me more closely of that great storyteller again, CS Lewis in The Great Divorce,

a story about his thoughts on Heaven & Hell,

CS Lewis ultimately describes a place where everybody got whatever they wanted … and they were miserable. …This is Hell!

Whenever we see other people doing whatever they want, whenever they want, … we know how that ends.

We know there is a destructive dead-end somewhere down the road of doing whatever we want whenever we want.

We need less “Give a Mouse a Cookie” … & We need more “Berenstien Bears: Have No Fear, God Is Near”!

There’s an incredible picture of someone in the bible who lived in every way imaginable our American Dream version of the “abundant life” … He’s kind of a Mr. Everything ….

He was the richest guy in the world, the most famous guy in the world, &the wisest guy in the world.

So, he was like BillGates,ElvisPresley,&Yoda all wrapped up in one person!ProbablyneverheardSolomondescribedlikethatbefore

Listen to Solomon’s description of his life in Ecc 2: 4-10

^4-8 Oh, I did great things: built houses, planted vineyards, designed gardens and parks … ; then I acquired large herds and flocks, larger than any before me in Jerusalem. I piled up silver and gold, loot from kings and kingdoms.  … and—most exquisite of all pleasures—voluptuous maidens for my bed. ^9-10 Oh, how I prospered! I left all my predecessors in Jerusalem far behind, left them behind in the dust. What’s more, I kept a clear head through it all. Everything I wanted I took—I never said no to myself.

Now, you may be thinking, “Bingo! … Sign me up!”

But when Solomon reflects on this, check out how he describes it in Ecc 2:11

¹¹ Then I took a good look at everything I’d done …. But when I looked, I saw nothing but smoke.

 Smoke and spitting into the wind. There was nothing to any of it. Nothing.

 … “Everything I wanted” …. Becomes described as … “Nothing” …

What’s interesting is the subheadings for these two comparing sections are “I Never Said No To Myself” & “I Hate My Life”!

Never saying “No” to yourself doesn’t lead to abundant life …. It leads to hating your life ….

You’ve seen this with …. Parenting … Teaching…  Governing … maybe even a Spring Break! 

So … if the “Abundant Life” isn’t Red Bull commercials or Cruise Line commercials or “never saying no to myself” …

Then what is it? … What is this abundant life that we all want?

Well, I think if the Gospel is the Gospel & the Good News is the Good News … then shouldn’t it be Good News for everyone?

There should be a version of “abundant life” that’s sounds so sweet that anyone on the planet, if they heard it, would say …

“Yeah! … That’s Good News …. Give me some of that … life!”

Where can we find that kind of abundant life? …

Well … I think we need to look to the wisest man’s father …. David

David … a man who spent his early years as a shepherd …

Happened to write some of the most famous words in the bible … we hear them all the time

Ironically, we most often hear these words at funerals, yet ….

Listen to these words & tell me you don’t hear … abundant life …

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. …….He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, …. I will fear no evil, for you are with me

I hope that sounds like abundant life to you … Because that is abundant life!

Did you catch who is doing what in these beautiful words ….

Notice what the author is not doing here … I am NOT wanting!  … There is no lack, there is plenty. 

There’s not scarcity, there’s abundance!

Notice what else I am not doing here … I am NOT fearing! Why is it that I will fear nothing? You’re Emmanuelle, youre with me!

I shall not Want … and I will not Fear …

Notice what the Lord my Shepherd is doing … HE makes me lie down … I have rest … in green pastures … there is flourishing!

He leads me to still waters … (How are you doing shepherding yourself to still waters?) …

 … life isn’t out of control … there is not chaos … there is restoration & renewal in my inner most being!

He leads me down the right path... there is righteousness … justice …mercy.

Why would He do all this? ... Why on earth would the Good Shepherd lead me down these paths? ….

For Him …It’s all for Him! … Follow the Good Shepherd …… Follow the Good Shepherd

And the amazing thing is … you have no idea where the paths of righteousness might go …. Do it anyway!

I have no idea what the future holds when I’m “all in” for following the Good Shepherd …. I’m going to do it anyway!

Because I know this … The Good Shepherd laid down His life & took it up again so that I might have life & life abundantly!

Even though you have no idea what the future holds …. Follow the Good Shepherd …..

Because I know that when David, the former shepherd, was writing that 23^rd Psalm ….

He had no idea that through his family lineage would one day come the Savior of the world!

And this Savior, in one of his final conversations on earth, asked one of His dearest friends 3 times directly,

“Do you love Me? …. Do you love Me? …Do you truly love Me?”

And Jesus gave him the same emphasized, repeated response, three times … in John 21 “Feed my sheep!”

How amazing is that?!  ...Our shepherd ... Our Good Shepherd ...Now invites us into His work!!

If you didn’t see yourself as valuable before, ponder this:

The creator of all things invites us into his creation to pour out ourselves …

This completely revalues everything! … A conversation isn't just a conversation …

A shared meal isn't just nourishing depleted cells …

Jesus said at a party, “It's the sick who need a hospital.” … (The same root word where we get hospitality.) ….

So, it’s in this revaluing of everything where we can see “sharing life together” becomes an act of healing...

Everything takes on a renewed depth & meaning & purpose when we engage with God in the feeding of His sheep …

How do we realize purpose? ... Feed my sheep! …Feed my sheep...

And what’s amazing is …. Jesus tells us that this is how …. we will SEE HIM … in the world!! ….

If I'm laying my head on the pillow at the end of the day...

And I can't sleep  … And I'm talking to God about where I saw him today

You know what helps me sleep better? ... Not counting sheep ... But talking to the shepherd...

And sometimes you get a whisper … or sometimes it's a glimpse …  

But sometimes it's a flash burned in your retinas … that you’ll remember the rest of your life ….

So, let me take you back to the Good Shepherd School in Haiti as we close here ….

Remember the water bottle soccer we played ….

Well, we did, in fact, take quite of bit of supplies down to the school,

One of the things we took was a bunch of soccer balls … An actual soccer ball is like gold down there at the school …

When a real official soccer ball (not a water bottle, not knotted of rags, not wound up banana leaves) makes an appearance on the school grounds … all eyes are on it ….

So … we take out a soccer ball … and a large group of us were playing soccer in the small bit of open dirt space inside the walls of the school yard.

After a while of playing, one particularly big kick sent the ball up & over the walls of The Good Shepherd …

This is a disaster … this is a tragedy … Everyone playing knows immediately … outside the walls … chaos reigns …

That ball is gone …

But, I tell the players … “Don’t worry, we brought others … I’ll go get one!”

So, I turn & I’m walking toward our supplies when I hear behind me someone shouting, “Dan! Dan! Dan!”

I stop & turn around & I see the shouts are coming from a head poking up from outside the wall … It’s Ishmael!

When we make eye contact, he points to the sky & start’s yelling …

“Merci! Jesi!.. Merci! Jesi!” … “Thanks you, Jesus! Thank You, Jesus!”

And then he raises up from behind the wall … the soccer ball ….and he does the most beautiful thing …

He raises the ball over his head & throws it back inside the walls of the Good Shepherd.

Here he is …. A kid who has quite literally nothing …. Has just had delivered to him … from the heavens … a soccer ball

This is like standing in your driveway and your favorite car falls from the sky and lands in front of you!

You might think … “Thank You, Jesus! … Thank You, Jesus!” ….

But I pray your thoughts would be as Ishmael’s were ….

“Lord … Everything I need … is from the Good Shepherd! …

Everything I have … I offer back to the Good Shepherd!”

As one theologian put it, “Open yourself to God  ... Not as one who seizes, but as one who lets go.”

And may you do so with shouts of “Merci Jesi” … “Merci Jesi” … “Thank You, Jesus!” … “Thank You, Jesus!”