Are you a people watcher?
In A&E, it can pass many a tedious hour inventing the back story to why others are there. NHS staff have to deal with some pretty challenging situations – often caused by the good old general public, and our stupidity. Apparently two hundred plus people are treated each year for underwear related accidents. About 70 people each year hurt themselves with napkins or paper serviettes. One hospital treated a man who swallowed a spanner …
We can be our own worst enemies at times; I’m so glad there were no cameras around to record my fall when I stepped on a slimy sleeper in the 3 Horseshoes car park a couple of years ago! If only we thought before we acted … or learned from our past mistakes. But we’re human! We make wrong or careless choices, and get ourselves in a mess.
When the Bible thinks of an animal with which to compare us, it comes up with not an eagle, or a lion, or a dog, but … a sheep! Sheep aren’t the brightest, they run towards danger, away from safety. But one thing they have going for them is their Shepherd. If you do Twitter, you may follow @herdyshepherd1, a Cumbrian sheep farmer, who describes his life with Herdwick sheep. Fascinating reading. Lately he’s been talking about lambing, and the sheer exhaustion every day, bringing lambs to birth and keeping them and mothers safe from inclement weather and predators.
Jesus spoke these words: “I am the Good Shepherd …”. The comforting thing is that he also says: “my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”. He knows the wrong choices we make at times, and calls us to go his way. I’m going to try and get my ears tuned into his voice – how about you?
Blessings,
Janet
The Revd Janet Tebby
01664 474096