While I was away at camp our 5 month old miniature daschund puppy learned how to escape under a fence gate. Now this spring when she was smaller I had to add some chicken fence to the gates to keep her from getting through. Last week she got smarter and learned how to nudge her way under.
So today. I felt like the farmer going out to mend fence and keep the livestock in. I was thinking sheep because that’s pretty biblical and I remember when my father-in-law rented out some of his land for another farmer to keep sheep in. They were constantly getting out.
Anyway, here I am lowering the gate hinges; boarding up to different ways to keep this little corner from being flexible and securing some more zip ties to more of the fence. All the while, Lily, our precocious puppy is watching me and in my pile of tools and things. She then watches as I go out front to get the mail, while she is stuck behind my new Fort Knox fence. Ha! I laugh and taunt her. Try to escape now you lively little puppy. So far so good.
I was thinking of the parable Jesus told of the 100 sheep. 99 were secure and one got lost. How did it get lost? Was the gate open? Did the shepherd not secure things enough? or Was the sheep as precocious as my little puppy? I guess we may never know the answer to that, but sure enough the shepherd went after it. Could have been happy with 99 but went the extra effort to get the one lost lamb. Aren’t you glad the story is about the Good Shepherd and we are so often lost and Jesus comes to search for us.
I wish the church had a Fort Knox fence to keep the flock in and out of harm. But the government my have their say if I started locking up church folk. So I will simply trust Jesus to search for the lost and I will do my best to keep them from getting away. And I do have a big flashlight to help in the search. I don’t want anybody lost either.
So for now Lily, the puppy is securely in the back yard. Wait, maybe I should go check again, she is very precociou………………………………………………………………
