Focus
As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.
Read
Matthew 18:10-14 (NRSV)
“Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.
Reflect
Ten years of my childhood was spent living with my family on a tenant farm just outside of tiny Allensville, Kentucky. I was around seven when one of the cows wandered off and got stuck in a shallow sink hole in some woods. Dad was able to get the cow out, but she was too weak to make it back to the lot with the other cows. To this day I recall Dad, with a big bunch of hay under one arm and a five gallon bucket of water in his other hand heading out to the woods to make sure the cow had something to eat and drink. After a couple of days she was strong enough to make it back to the herd. If there’s a “happily ever after” for cows, she was one happy cow!
Not surprisingly, the parable of the lost sheep rings true to me. The shepherd leaves the secure sheep to search for the unfortunate one who got lost along the way. In our time, the shepherd wanders the streets, alleys, halls of nursing homes and hospitals in search of those who have become separated from the herd. God’s love and compassion never give up on us and never desert us. For this good news, there is indeed call for rejoicing!
Pray
God, there are times when the rush and the busyness of life leave us feeling like we’ve been left behind. Meetings, appointments, and jobs drain the vitality from us, leaving us weak and confused. Thank you for searching us out and leading us safely back into the fold. Amen.
Go with God.
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