I was paired up with a very chilled llama called Bob for a leisurely stroll across the fields and onto the beach of the Erne estuary just outside Ballyshannon. The owners tell me there’s a growing interest not just for holiday recreation but in a therapeutic way for health and wellbeing.
Bob and I got on fine, only occasionally did I have to give a tug on the lead rein to stop him wandering off. It gave me a tangible feel for the world’s favourite Psalm, number 23 about the Lord being like a Shepherd.
‘He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.’
Christians are Christ’s ‘flock’, He leads us through life, provides our needs, comforts us, protects us, He even laid down His life for us. Bob helped me better appreciate the ‘leading’ bit. Sometimes we need pulled back from dodgy paths and shown a better way.
‘He restores my soul’ means literally ‘He corrects me, He brings me back into line.’ If I, silly sheep that I am, am heading off the track and possibly into danger, the Good Shepherd wisely and lovingly uses His ‘rod and staff’ to draw me into an altogether better way of going. It’s a path of righteousness that invites God’s blessing. Hence the name He richly deserves, ‘the Good Shepherd.’ All thanks and praise to Him!
More than ever I’m taking this as my motto, my guiding principle in life – FTS –
‘FOLLOW THE SHEPHERD’!
I recommend everyone do the same.