Article January 5, 1981 Issue

The shepherd thought

ANITA LEE CHANEY

When Jesus was born, the shepherds were led by angels to find him in the manger.

What qualities of God does the shepherd thought express in order to discover the Christ, Truth? Picture the shepherd alone in the wilderness surrounded by sheep who require constant care. This is no eight-to-five job with weekends off. Willingness to put "self" behind is essential in order to gather, feed, water, protect, and nurture one's charges. Getting rid of self includes overcoming the mesmeric desire to relax and sleep—to let down one's vigil. Like shepherds, we must remain alert to the animals of prey—fear, violence, lack, and hatred—that would attack during the night. We can trust God's fathering and mothering to take care of all His beloved children, whether this trust leads us to a manger or to a mansion. Listening for God's direction and then carrying out that guidance require learning more about God so we can recognize His leading and feel the assurance of His love. As Proverbs says: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."^{Prov. 3:5, 6.}

Think of the youthful David tending his father's sheep. Alone, he faced a bear's and a lion's attempts to take a lamb out of the flock.^{See I Sam. 17:34,35 .} Facing fear is part of our growth toward the shepherd thought that leads away from self to Truth. A shepherd learns to stand up to fear. If he backs down or runs for safety out of panic, the flock will scatter, and his faith in God's presence will disperse like the sheep. This would not be likely to happen to the wakeful, obedient shepherd. His tender care for the sheep in the wilderness shows that he already has put their welfare above his own. His capacity to express God's love provides him with the foundation for success against any challenge. To the degree that the shepherd reflects divine Love nurturing and protecting its ideas, he receives all the strength and all the courage he needs.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

The shepherd thought

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access