Our 2 km walking trail to the woods now has this resting feature, built with all stone from our land. Thanks to @Lenn_Add_County for the financial support. Our walking trail is free, for now passing this flock of ewes waiting to lamb. We seek a good name. Suggestions anyone?
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me...
John 10:11-14 NRSVue
At least once a year we make the ferry trip to Amherst Island in Lake Ontario for some excellent bird snooping and to stop in at Topsy Farms. We've appreciated developing a relationship with Sally, the last of the hippies who founded Topsy Farms 50-odd years ago who is now the matriarch of the sheep-herding clan.This is a working sheep farm that has diversified with a lovely wool product shop and opportunities for visitors to witness sheep-shearing in action and get "up close and personal" with lambs in the Spring. You might say that people flock to these experiences, if you were inclined toward corny jokes.
Baarak the Fugitive Sheep Before & After
Sheep can be confounding creatures (aren't we all) who are herd animals with occasional streaks of willfulness that challenge the most experienced of shepherds. From time to time we hear a story of a rogue sheep in the Australian outback who is wily enough to evade recapture for extended periods.
The Archbishop of Paris knocks three times on the doors of Notre Dame Cathedral with his crosier or shepherd's crook, created from the charred beams of the burned structure
Yesterday was Good Shepherd Sunday in the Christian year and so we sang the 23rd Psalm and heard about feckless shepherds contrasted with the Good Shepherd, Jesus.
These are timely reminders even if we don't care much about sheep farming. It seems that there are so may wolves in sheep's clothing attempting to rule the world and they have pulled the wool over the eyes of an astonishing number of people. They encourage us to live with suspicion and contempt for the very people Jesus came to save -- I use the word "save" intentionally because I feel that we are losing our way when it comes to compassion and justice and democracy. While I'm wary of someone coming to the rescue, a human "just trust me" saviour, I want to deepen my allegiance to Some One, the real-deal Good Shepherd.
While I'm wary of someone coming to the rescue, a human "just trust me" saviour, I want to deepen my allegiance to Some One, the real-deal Good Shepherd.
My suggestion for the lovely stone seat pictured above was Coldtush-henge but I'm not holding my breath that it will stick.
2 comments:
We, also , had a message about the shepherd - and videos showing how real shepherds get their sheep to do things. The one that impressed me was demonstrating how the sheep know the shepherd's voice and respond to it. It reminded me of a hymn I sang long ago . "My Sheep Know My Voice" - you can hear it on you tube ! The one by an African choir is particularly enjoyable.
You're right Judy, there is plenty of sheepish music out there based on scripture! Bridge St. is well equipped to share images and videos.
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