The Seasons: A Poem

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Sunrise over Amazing Grasses Family Farm The mad Artist wields His brush, Painted colors rush, To life and give flush, Before the quiet autumn hush. The life seems to pour, As colors fall to the floor, To be seen no more, Outside the dark, grey door. Brightness from below, Sun upon the snow, High, cold clouds blow, Flakes and ice appear to grow. The man melts with little seen, Underneath, pale, grey green, Hides life in dark unseen, Waits for warmth and to careen. Buds on branches show, Patience starts to grow, Trickles, streams and veins flow, Bringing fruits of melted snow. Sprung to life it springs, Bees, birds, sound rings, Lush green flings, Its gift bounty brings. Green growth gives one last rush, Underneath the Painter's brush. The mad Artist wields His brush, before the quiet autumn hush. More poetry is available from James M. Hahn in  The Last Dragon and Other Poems  available now. My new book of cryptogram puzzles " Secret Messages from the Saints " is avai
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Leaving Ninety-nine

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Today's Gospel parable has always given me trouble. This parable about the lost sheep makes no sense to me, humanly speaking. Jesus asks this question to the Pharisees and scribes who were complaining about Him eating and hanging out with sinners - "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?"

I want to scream out the answer as if I from the back row of the crowd of people. "Not me, not anyone here. That makes no sense to leave the rest of your sheep defenseless out in the desert while searching for one that had not the sense to stick with the group. It makes no sense to chase after that one sheep while risking the loss of more to wild animals in the desert! Furthermore, having a party, if in fact you do find that one silly lamb, seems a bit much."

This answer, I realize, is the answer of a fallen man who places value more upon things. This is an answer that shows the difference between man's way of thinking and God's way of thinking. Man sees the risk involved, calculates the potential gain and / or loss, and decides to take a small loss rather than risking a larger one. God sees each lamb equally and loves each equally. It would be unthinkable for Him to leave even one behind.

God loves us with this unbelievable love. He risks everything for each one of us, lost as we are. He knows that as He searches for us there is the possibility that it may be too late - the wild beasts may have found us first - but He searches anyway.

We may not leave ninety-nine to go and find one but we should. It is difficult. We say, "they chose that path" or "I'll pray for them to return" or "they're good people, they'll come back eventually" but God wants us to imitate Him. He wants us to leave what we know, leave our comfort zone, and reach out to help those lost sheep return. When they do, it is just like the parable, it is surely time to party.

Let's search after the lost sheep in our lives and if we are lost, let's meet the Good Shepherd as He is searching for us. Let's not hide from Him. That would be baaaaaaaaaaaaaad. (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

If you want to flee from God, flee to Him instead. Flee to Him by confessing to Him; don't flee from Him by trying to hide. For you can't hide, but you can confess. . . . In failing to confess, Lord, I would only hide myself from myself, not myself from You. - St. Augustine

Comments

Barbara said…
Good post, James. It's a good thing God comes after us, isn't it? For no one else would.
7:51 AM
James M. Hahn said…
Thanks Barbara. Yes, it is a good thing that He comes after us not just once either but basically everyday. Only somedays He doesn't have to travel as far!
4:56 PM
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