Ordinary Time

Pause

The shepherd reminds us of simpler times and slower lives. Embrace the life of a shepherd today – living more simply, moving more slowly.

Stop and have a conversation you normally don’t have time for. At some point today, sit quietly with no screen for as long as you can.

Rest now in God’s goodness.

Listen

The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing. He lets me rest in grassy meadows; he leads me to restful waters; he keeps me alive. He guides me in proper paths for the sake of his good name.

Psalm 23:1-3

Think

I like the idea of a shepherd, though I probably wouldn’t like to be one — it seems like it might be a pretty slow job. But this familiar Psalm transcends a humble shepherd and speaks of God as the Great Shepherd. Do you know this Psalm from memory? Stop and speak it aloud right now. What stories or feelings does it bring to your mind?

When I speak this Psalm aloud, I feel protected and cared for. I breathe deeply, trusting God knows our needs and will literally keep us alive by leading us to safety, rest, and water. God knows our days and sustains us. But there is an important role that we play — we have to decide to follow the shepherd. This means that we won’t always know where we are going, and probably won’t always be happy with our current direction. But if we can let go of the lead and simply follow, God will guide us, helping us get to where we need to be.

David Burroughs

Pray

Great Shepherd, help me to let go of the lead for a bit and to actively follow where you lead me. I trust you, God, to care for me and lead me to the right place, down the right path, in the right time. Amen.

Go

As you leave this quiet space, moving on to what this day will bring, take the faith that God is with you, the trust that God is leading you, and the peace that comes from Holy contentment.