Mirror Message
 

As I sit down to write this, I can already picture some of you reaching for the phone book to call out the little men in white jackets. I am fairly confident, however, that even though they be called, they would have a hard time locating my house. No matter. It would be worth the lesson I learned this morning- no matter how strangely it appeared to me... and “appeared is certainly the right word to use.

I woke with many heavy and burdensome things on my mind. There are many circumstances and situations that have my attention these days. As I stepped out of the shower, into the steamy bathroom, (I am so thankful for hot water) previous towel wipes over the mirror (no doubt to wipe away steam from someone else's shower) combined with current steam on the mirror, left the image of the head of a sheep. (Don't leave me here- I know you are tempted to make the phone call, but this is going somewhere). I saw his beady little eye, the strong line of his jaw, the little curve of his nose, and the wisp of an ear. There he was, plain as day, in my mirror steam- the profile of a sheep! How gracious of the Lord to put before me this twofold reminder- 1) I am a sheep, and 2) I am a sheep!

The first reminder is a comfort, the second reminds me I am a challenge, to Him and myself. Because I am a sheep, belonging to the flock of the Good Shepherd, I do not have to worry and toil about all those things that were on my heart and mind this morning. God is my Shepherd, and He says to cast all my cares on Him. He says that He will lead me to the provisions that I need under His great protection. He says He has me covered. How wonderful to be His sheep.

I must also remember, however, that God does equate me with a sheep, which is not very flattering. I have worked with 4-H lambs with my son and daughter, and they are, to say the least, a challenge. You can work for months with them, and think you have the calmest and most obedient lamb around. You then get to the county fair and realize that one little 5-year-old, holding a bag of popcorn while watching you wash your lamb, can drop a few little kernels, and it can make the lamb go ballistic. It is very unpredictable just what, when and where will spook a sheep. Sometimes the shepherd can be right there, even speaking soothing words, when the sheep senses danger and decides to flee. It makes no sense.

Makes me think of myself when I yell out to the Lord, “Danger! There is danger here.” He calmly says, “Come close to Me. Come over here, closer to me.” To which I reply, “I can't. It's too dangerous!” Yes, I am a sheep, a smelly, old, stubborn, goosey, goofy sheep. Sometimes I make no sense. But we do have a sheep/shepherd relationship with Jesus, and He says some very important things about what a shepherd does and what sheep do. On His part, He:

watches over His sheep (See John chapter 10)

guards them (Isaiah 40:11)

leads them (beside still waters and into green pastures) (Psalm 23)

corrects them (Psalm 23)

comforts them (Psalm 23)

lays down His life for them (John 10)

does not slumber or sleep (Psalm 121:3-4)

and goes to get the strays (Matthew 18:12-13) (Luke 15:1-7)

And a good sheep has two responsibilities. The first is to hear His voice (John 10:3, 14, 27). We have to be listening for it and then to it. The second is to follow Him (John 10:27). So even if we are flighty, jittery, not so bright sheep, if we listen to His voice and follow Him, we will be OK.

Even as I work in front of a clear mirror now, trying to do something with my hair in order to go to another responsibility, the image of the sheep in the steam in the mirror has cleared, but not from my mind. I will remember today to listen for His voice and follow. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6b)