Thank you for dropping by for my Pause in Lent post. Four more weeks until Easter! Yay!
I tried to draw some sheep. Not easy. Gumbo Lily (see blog roll below) let me blow up one of her sheep photos and now it is above the fireplace in the family room. I didn't do an expert job of framing it (I used Scotch tape). Lent is a good time to consider sheep, I think.
I am happy being a sheep. I think we've been a little too influenced by our self-help culture. We feel a great pressure to be unique and different simply for the sake of being UNIQUE and DIFFERENT. Children (Jesus loves them and wants us to remain childlike in our thinking because they're so pure) don't seem to want to distinguish themselves as being different as much as adults do. I loved the part in the film, The Bucket List, when Morgan Freeman's character says to Jack Nicholson's character, "Everybody's everybody." I wish we'd think about our corporate place in the body of mankind more than our individuality. Just saying. Sheep "baa baa baa" along and travel together in a big herd. I like it.
People don't own ONE sheep, do they?
I must say that what sheep give is useful. Mmmmmmmm.
It's chilly but not freezing, so I'm going to go out for a walk and listen to Lark Rise to Candleford while I poke along on the sidewalk. I love the simplicity of Flora Thompson's great work. It makes me feel connected to my ancestors.
I hope you feel that cozy and folksy fellowship that comes from being part of the human race today.
29 comments:
I agree I would rather be part of a flock than all on my own.
I like being a sheep and feeling the sherpherd's crook, safely cared for. Enjoy your walk.
cute little sheepies! :)
Great thoughts- it is much better to be a part of a flock! Hurrah for being Jesus' flock!x
No wonder I love you and your blog! I just love the Larkrise books and the television series. Whenever I want to feel basic, I watch that show. Makes me want to hand sew and write letters. :) Love your sheep! Baaaaa. Kit
Yep, I'm part of that flock too. Sometimes I need rescuing and it's a great feeling knowing that Jesus the Good Shepherd is watching out for me, a sinner...
Hugs,
JB
I love Flora Thompson's books too, and need to get back to them. We Americans are WAY TOO FOCUSED on individual rights/freedoms/responsibility, etc. It's to our detriment. We've lost so much community, so much cohesion. God has a people -- a corporate body which is Christ's body. We focus on our individual salvation, but God also sees us as united to each other. Thanks for reminding us, Pom!
I am glad to be part of the flock too!
I remember the complete shock when we started raising sheep and how dumb they were, and realized that God wasn't saying nice things about us being sheep. We do need a shepherd.
I am so glad you blew up that sheep picture. I always liked it.
My guests will be here soon. I have cleaned and made ready. All is done.
I hope you have a lovely week.
I like your sheep. I tried MAKING sheep during Advent and had high hopes of an entire flock. Alas it was a small flock and got laughed at a bit.They did look wonky.
You draw sheep a lot better than I could. : )
And what a great shepherd we have!!
A delightful and inspiring post. Thank you so much for sharing.
Being led, obeying, I find that all a bit hard - I am probably a black sheep do you think? but I am trying- definitely don't want to stand out but find the other sheep a bit stupid at times! they don't think too much because they trust - trust is what children have and adults lose isn't it Pompom. I like your sheep drawings and also your friends sheep photo - I might try and find something sheepy to put on my fridge and remind me to keep it simple. Betty x
Very good drawing Of sheep PomPom, lovely reminder leading towards Holy Week.
Hope you have a good week.
Hugs,
Aida
I certainly want to be part of Jesus's flock! On the other hand, I do need times of peace and quiet. Time by myself to contemplate and rest from the noise of the world. Are these two things compatible? I'm sure they are. I just need some wisdom in this area. ;) I love your framing technique. It looks very nice. I've seen you scotch tape pictures to your wall. Now, that's my style! :) I'm a big fan of your drawing style.
I had a very good friend, who had kept sheep. and she assured me, that they are very dumb. so I personally, don't care that much, for the sheep analogy. ,-) running with the herd and following the shepherd and all that.
I guess I'd like to be the individual, that I am. in a group of individuals.
just my take. :-)))
Tessa
I am thankful for the flocks and all they stand for. There is something there for 'everyone's everyone'. Wool comes in many colors, can be shaped to many forms, is comforting and claims only to be superior in quality not in quantum physics.
Bless the Herders and their flocks. Without them we would not be picking lint or Lent.
Your thoughts about wanting to be different are very thought provoking. Some people worry about being copied because they don't want others to be the same as them, but the fact that others do want to be the same just shows that you said doesn't it. xx
My son's Mother-in-Law gave me a book for Christmas called 'The Black Sheep' - I think that's what she thinks of me! I'm the complete opposite of her. I can't comment on any of the religious aspects of your post, Dearest Pom, because I'm not remotely religious but I do respect your views and am slightly envious of you peeps who hold such conviction.
Oh! Pom Pom! I love that beautiful sheepie picture on your mantle. I feel so honored that you chose my sheep (our sheep) to grace your home. Thank you.
When you live amongst sheep like I do, you really realize a lot about why God calls us His sheep. We are very similar. We all have various idiosyncrasies, personalities, we even have the same sounding cough and sneeze as a sheep. We go astray, we try to do things our own way, but realize that once we are away from the flock, it isn't so pleasant. Sheep are very much flock animals and they do not thrive well without others. Nobody has just one sheep -- you are right. It doesn't work.
I loved your post and reflections on being a sheep. Have you read A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller? I just love that book because I can relate to it so well. Keller also has another book called A Gardener Looks at the Fruit of the Spirit. That book is on my shelf and I want to begin reading it before gardening season. Like you, I love Larkrise too!
I love all your sheep (and Jody's, too) Pom Pom. Do you know how hard it is to find sheepy things in the store at Easter time? I don't know if it is just where I live or what, but I want some sheep and they are hard to find (and not stuffed ones). I did see some at the store today. They were an inch tall. I will keep looking!
Sheep are good things to be (even if they aren't the brightest animals on the farm!) I'm happy to be a sheep in my Master's flock - even though I think I may be the one who keeps wandering off, while the other 99 roll their eyes and baa "Whaaaat? Again?"
No, I don't suppose folks own only one sheep. Just west of us is a sheep feedlot, at one time the largest in the country and perhaps it still is. Sheep for as fa as the eye can see. Yet I'd rather see them in green fields. My husband wants to get a sheep or two, but I firmly say no simple because I would have to take care of them when he goes fishing. Hope your walk was great.
Good thoughts about sheep! And love the drawings too. Reading such a good book that goes along with what you are saying "Ordinary" by Michael Horton. Must read Lark Rise... Had to return it to the library because I got swamped in other books. It would be a good one for summer vacation maybe.
I fear I'm a bit of a black sheep--very bad at staying with the flock. But I want to be with the others, and I keep trying.
I would love to listen to Lark Rise to Candleford on audio. It's such a lovely book.
xofrances
Those are very wise reflections about sheep and individualism. Jody's sheep are really looking right at you, aren't they? They look smarter than they probably are, as if they are trying to tell us, "Silly humans, just be happy being a member of God's flock!"
Baa! I'm just a fuzzy lamb trying to follow my shepherd! Blessings on you!
Aw.. I love sheep and I love Jesus. I'd never thought of it the way you describe in this post. Thanks for your thoughts! :)
even twinkies come in two's and so should sheep. when I move...notice when, not if, I want 2 pet sheep. those sheep in first photo are Merino's I do believe.
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