The other day, as I was darting around town running errands, I couldn’t help but notice the overwhelming gridlock on the roads. It was mid-morning, when you’d expect things to be relatively calm, not the chaotic surge I witnessed. I found myself pondering the origin of all these vehicles and the thoughts swirling in the minds of their drivers.
Living in a vibrant college town adjacent to a bustling military base means my surroundings are a tapestry of students bustling with ambition and retirees enjoying the leisurely pace of life. The atmosphere is always charged with energy, yet on that day, it felt different—more urgent.
With massive executive orders looming on the horizon, promising cuts and freezes that will ripple through our community, it struck me that we can’t afford to drive around aimlessly. Each car on the road seemed to carry a purpose, an unsaid mission with a destination etched in mind. Maybe, just maybe, we’re all navigating through the same storm, seeking clarity amid the uncertainty. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that we have more in common than differences. Yet, I feel the one difference that has separated many of us has always been the colors of our skin.
People chase their unique happiness in a free, vibrant nation, driven by personal goals and desires. Yet, in this pursuit, they often set aside the spirit of unity, prioritizing individual satisfaction over collective strength. With these new changes, many see societal alterations that can and will affect us all. Why are our elected leaders not standing up for the people, instead of sacrificing us to the wolves that are foreign and domestic?
I’m reminded of the biblical verses about the Good Shepherd in John 10. It doesn’t matter which version; they may be written differently but have the same meaning. I’m using the New International Version (NIV).
“11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
The Good Shepherd selflessly lays down his life to safeguard his flock, a collection of wandering souls who have strayed, captivated instead by those who chase after their ambitions. This growing distance between the shepherd and his flock paints a poignant picture of alienation. Yet, beneath the shadows of their separation, the Shepherd's sacrifice resonates with profound significance, echoing through the corridors of time. As the seasons change and the years unfold, he will ultimately return, a figure of unwavering authority, to judge the flock with compassion and righteousness for all eternity.
