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| 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.
