Oh, to encourage us to greater places and higher things, to lift our eyes to beauty and interesting finds, and to walk together off the conveyor’s shuffle. This includes not only the exterior life of trade and education, but the relational life, the interior life. This morning my own hardness turned around and smacked me in the face, reminding me of who I am when I fail to dwell on the goodness and sweetness of things around me. In today’s world, I need even more to dwell on true, winsome scents and sights right here and right now.
today
Today we received a really simple but very encouraging email from our new pastor. He wrote a quick note that blessed our family and (inadvertently) showed me that he notices things. He sees patterns in the flock. He has made a mental note about our prayer requests, among a flock of hundreds. It reminded me of the Psalm that exhorts shepherds to know the flock and its state. There is great and practical reward for such a leader.
in the moment
Several weeks ago, a medical emergency erupted during the church gathering. It was a sensitive and contemplative time in the service, and afterwards, I considered how the unexpected event could have been handled in so many different ways. The shepherd could have continued through the “program,” ignoring the event. Or he could have made a spectacle of the whole thing, shining a light on either himself or the woman in distress. Instead, he quietly told the music team to continue to play instrumental music. He informed us about what was going on. He instructed the congregation to stay calm, and he gently led us to intercede in prayer for the situation as it was unfolding. He put aside any existing man-generated agenda and responded in the moment to what was actually going on. And this act caused me to feel knitted into this congregation in a new way as we prayed together for the woman.
Then, a week later, we had a particularly engaging time of musical worship. Normally, pastor Brock would move right into his message. But instead he “didn’t want to lose this moment,” and opened up the time for testimony of God’s greatness. The congregation, who didn’t know how to respond to an open mic, instead began shouting out exaltation and specific ways they had seen God’s greatness recently. It was such an edifying time. Again, I witnessed an unusual humble sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. The presence of God in the room was heightened. We were attentive. We were electrified.
It is so good to see an accurate reflection of some of what makes the Good Shepherd good, in a human among us. While many pastors fulfill the calling of overseer, of executive, of counselor, of connector, of visionary and leader, my heart sings at the thought of a shepherd listening for and responding to the movement of the Best Shepherd in the room.