Showing posts with label 5th century mosaic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 5th century mosaic. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

I AM NOT A SHEEP

 
The Good Shepherd, mosaic in Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna,
1st half of 5th century

The Good Shepherd metaphor no longer works all that well for me, though at one time, it did, for I loved the idea that the Lord was my shepherd.  The Good Shepherd is not the problem, but I no longer relate to being a sheep.  Though sheep are not dumb animals, as is widely believed, they do tend to herd, and my inclination is more toward being a loner than a member of a herd.  I'd be the sheep who strays away, and the Good Shepherd would have to leave the other 99 to come to look for me.  After a while, I'm sure even the Good Shepherd, the Best Shepherd of all, would be annoyed by my behavior.  Mind you, I have not thought through the theological implications of not wanting to be a sheep.  What I've written is sort of an extended thought for the day, about which I could change my mind once I consider further the consequences of not being a sheep.

I should add that I love the looks of Scottish Blackface sheep.

The mosaic pictured above is lovely, isn't it?

Image from Wikimedia Commons.