Thoughts, Prayers & Art

Originally published: June 6, 2025

The Shepherd is walking
not above us, but among us,
not behind a throne, but in the pasture,
mud on His robe, lamb in His arms.

He sees the bruised and the broken,
the trampled and the tired,
and He weeps for the ones
who were pushed from the stream
by those who drank deep and walked away.

He is calling now
not just the shepherds,
but the sheep.

Calling us to lay down our pride,
to stop the shoving,
to stop the trampling,
to see one another as kin,
not competition.

He says:
You are not only sheep,
You are keepers of the flock.
You are not only fed
You are called to feed.

So...

Make room at the stream.
Let the water run clean.
Let your steps be soft,
your presence be peace.
Make room at the stream
for the one who came late,
for the one who limps,
for the one cast aside.

Make room at the stream
for your neighbor and stranger,
for the migrant, the wounded,
the queer and the grieving.

Make room at the stream
because the Shepherd made room for you.

And when He returns,
may He find a pasture not divided
but dancing,
not devouring,
but delighting
under the reign of peace,
under the covenant of mercy,
under His love.

Amen.