Be a good shepherd.
A Montana Reject and Proud Raving Lunatic
What criteria do you use to define yourself?
For a good part of my life, I defined myself by what I hated, and acted accordingly. It took a pretty severe shock to my system, and a couple days at a retreat examining my relationship with God and the failure of my marriage to realize that I had missed something vital and fundamental to my spiritual journey.
The admonition "Love thy neighbor, as thyself" became clearer to me. Slowly, I came to understand that before I could interact effectively and positively with those around me, I first had to learn to interact effectively and positively "with myself!" For me, the most difficult task I had faced in my life up to that point was "loving myself." This made it virtually impossible to even begin to understand how to love others.
There is a parable in the Bible about tending to ones flock. I never understood what that really meant. I thought that tending to my flock meant I had to (by any means possible) reign in those around me who didn't conform to my ideals and wishes. It wasn't until I learned to love myself and accept my shortcomings and strengths as a part of the whole me, that I understood that before I could be an effective shepherd I had to be in touch with "my flock" and leave other flocks alone. A good shepherd doesn't after all take it upon himself to try to control and herd another shepherds flock, he pays close attention to his own and gently nudges them towards the sweet grass and water. Done any other way, the competent shepherd knows that his sheep will scatter in every direction.
For ME, it doesn't work any other way. I am paying close attention to my attitudes and actions while letting the attitude and actions of others not affect my own as much as possible. I accept that not everyone thinks or feels as I do, and have come to understand that it is these differences that make the whole of humanity such a beautiful and wonderful thing.
Later!
What criteria do you use to define yourself?
For a good part of my life, I defined myself by what I hated, and acted accordingly. It took a pretty severe shock to my system, and a couple days at a retreat examining my relationship with God and the failure of my marriage to realize that I had missed something vital and fundamental to my spiritual journey.
The admonition "Love thy neighbor, as thyself" became clearer to me. Slowly, I came to understand that before I could interact effectively and positively with those around me, I first had to learn to interact effectively and positively "with myself!" For me, the most difficult task I had faced in my life up to that point was "loving myself." This made it virtually impossible to even begin to understand how to love others.
There is a parable in the Bible about tending to ones flock. I never understood what that really meant. I thought that tending to my flock meant I had to (by any means possible) reign in those around me who didn't conform to my ideals and wishes. It wasn't until I learned to love myself and accept my shortcomings and strengths as a part of the whole me, that I understood that before I could be an effective shepherd I had to be in touch with "my flock" and leave other flocks alone. A good shepherd doesn't after all take it upon himself to try to control and herd another shepherds flock, he pays close attention to his own and gently nudges them towards the sweet grass and water. Done any other way, the competent shepherd knows that his sheep will scatter in every direction.
For ME, it doesn't work any other way. I am paying close attention to my attitudes and actions while letting the attitude and actions of others not affect my own as much as possible. I accept that not everyone thinks or feels as I do, and have come to understand that it is these differences that make the whole of humanity such a beautiful and wonderful thing.
Later!
posted by webegeeks | 6:49 AM
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