I didn’t see it coming.  I was just reading a very familiar story that Jesus told about this Shepherd and his sheep.   He had 100 of them; but one of them wandered away and was lost.  And that’s when it happened.

I began to weep.  Like, not just a few tears, like a deep, gut-wrenching, wailing kind of weeping.

Just one sentence.   Here’s what it said, “There once was a shepherd with a hundred lambs, but one of his lambs wandered away and was lost.”  That’s all it took.

And I was there. And I could feel it.   I was seeing this poor little lamb wandering all alone, looking around, so lost, so scared, desperately trying to find his family, trying to find his shepherd.  And it was getting dark, and the lamb was getting cold and feeling so alone;  fear turned into panic as he ran this way, then that, searching, crying out.

And I felt the heart of the Shepherd who loved this little lamb and had been caring for him since he was born, and feeding him and tending him… and he knew that He MUST find him, and quickly.  The shepherd knew what the innocent lamb did not: that separated from his flock, without the safety of his shepherd, the little lamb was in great danger.   The Shepherd was very  aware that he wasn’t the only one searching to find him.  He knew there were enemies around, vicious wolves and hungry lions,  who would love to prey on an innocent, lost lamb.

And my heart broke.   And the tears continued to fall.   And I felt the heart of the Good Shepherd breaking for every lost lamb;  for every one of his little ones who had wandered away, who didn’t have the safety of family, the guidance of a Shepherd;  who felt completely and utterly alone.

It’s so easy to wander off.   We get a bit overwhelmed with life, consumed with what’s in front of us, head down- we just plow ahead, not realizing we are wandering into scary territory.  Following our desires for more, we just keep searching, thinking it’s just around the corner, just a bit further.

Till one day we stop, look up, and realize we have no idea how we got here.  We don’t recognize the place we find ourselves nor the person we’ve become.  We remember when we used to gather with the family, the flock of God;  life just got busy;  the kids are in sports;  besides, it took so much emotional energy, all that asking about my life ….

We just needed time to rest;  so we laid down and got comfortable; just needed sleep.   But now -now that we’re awake, the silence is deafening and the darkness is descending, and we’re not sure which way to go.   And the fear is rising as we realize we don’t know WHO to turn to, whom to listen to, nor which way is home.

“There once was a shepherd with a hundred lambs, but one of his lambs wandered away and was lost.  So the shepherd left the ninety-nine lambs out in the open field and searched in the wilderness for that one lost lamb.  He didn’t stop until he finally found it.  With exuberant joy he raised it up and placed it on his shoulders , carrying it back with cheerful delight!  Returning home, he called all his friends and neighbors together and said, ‘Let’s have a party!  Come and celebrate with me the return of my lost lamb!  It wandered away, but I found it and brought it home!'”     Luke 15: 3-7

Every single lamb matters!  YOU matter!   He knows you by name, has loved you since birth, and longs for you to be home in the safety of His care!   No matter how far you’ve wandered, He will find you – if you simply cry out!  He will come to any wilderness, search throughout a lifetime, and will never stop until He finds you!!!   THIS is the Shepherd who is also Father!  This is the love of the one whose goodness and mercy follow you all the days of your life, and will never stop running after you!!

And when you turn around and cry out for THIS SHEPHERD, you will truly be found!   You’ll have ALL that you need!  He’ll lead you by still waters and restore your soul!  He’ll give you rest in green pastures where you are safe and nourished and thriving and SAFE with the rest of the flock.   And even if you walk through valleys, through any shadow of death, you will not have to fear:  for He is with you!  His rod and His Shepherd’s staff comfort you and keep you close and remind you He is near!!!

And surely, His goodness and His mercy, His love and His Father’s heart, will pursue you all the days of your life, and you can dwell – with the rest of your flock / your family – in the house of the Lord, the Home He prepared for you – forever!  And there will be much celebration, and such great joy, and a party in your honor.  You, his sheep, how you matter!   For once you were lost.  But now you are safe, you are home, you are found.