One Shepherd: The Lord is My Shepherd, I...
That familiar Psalm has taken new meaning for me this past month. Wrestling with human mortality is something that surrounds us all… Children ask for understanding, but so do adults. Seeking strength, provision and “enough for today” is a necessity that we all face at some point in our lives, at various levels, many times in our brief existence.
Remember Mister Rogers? Long ago, in the neighborhood, he talked about dying. I used to have a pamphlet of how to explain death to a child. Entitled “When Someone Your Child Loves Dies” he talked about feeling sad, using concrete terminology and possible reactions (including guilt and anger). The 2 page guide is really about shepherding someone through the process.
You’ve had a difficult journey. You must be tired, and dirty. Let me wash your feet. The banquet’s ready.
The boy shepherd (David) calls us to see trusting, waiting, relying and resting from a unique perspective. Truly, it’s only found in the Triune Creator God himself! As sheep, we all learn about “guarding our minds” (Phil 4.7), enlightened perspective (2 Cor 4.4) and understanding the “things of the Spirit” by having the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2.16). Truly converted, we have a new way of thinking, understanding, living and dying.
As you use Scripture, the Spirit, and the community of believers to mold your understanding, worldview and mindset…you grow and develop as genuine disciples. Wouldn’t you agree? A Japanese theologian, fruitful missionary in Thailand and Singapore among Buddhists, wrote “Water Buffalo Theology”. It’s worth your time reading! He covers a lot of good points in this re-edited 1999 book, especially about concrete acts of service as a genuine display of love towards others. Kosuke Koyama, the author, also gives a very “grace based” interpretation of meeting Jesus after we die. He imagines Jesus saying: “You’ve had a difficult journey. You must be tired, and dirty. Let me wash your feet. The banquet’s ready.” In my mind, these words harmoniously transport me to the pastoral context of Psalm 23. Do you hear echoes of “You prepare a table for me”…?
The Alliance missions theme for 2019 and 2020 continues to announce that we are “Called To The Regions Beyond” with “One flock, One Shepherd” (John 10.16) as the subtitle. As members of “One Flock” we are all called to serve communities and neighborhoods, to multiply church networks and to develop disciples.
This mandate for the true Church, the One Body, has never changed! Perhaps our Shepherd is calling us to a new perspective of love and service, to a new mind about the whole person, life, death and the living…
The One Shepherd is calling us to green pastures — what’s that mean to you?
Resources: amazon.com, cmalliance.org
Dave Manske
Missions Mobilizer
North Central District of The C&MA