My Sheep Hear My Voice

-- Not far from the busy streets of Bethlehem we found ourselves passing Shepherd’s Field. “THE” shepherd’s field. The traditional site where shepherds saw the star and heard the angels sing. We were fortunate that day to find that the field was occupied by a shepherd and his flock. The shepherd didn’t care much for tourists so he stood up and began walking up the street with his faithful sheep following at his side. We learned that a shepherd, in the days of Christ, would break the leg of a wandering lamb and then bind the wound and carry the lamb across his shoulders. The lamb's head would rest near the shepherd’s heart. The lamb became dependent on his master and learned complete obedience. Once healed the lamb would never stray again. I’ve read since then that many consider that story to be an urban legend. Whether it is or not, we know that once "broken", we too no longer have a desire to stray, we have love for our shepherd, we recognize him, hear his voice and desire to follow him. Like the broken lamb, our shepherd carries and feeds us, loves us and asks that we “come and follow him”. I like the way Job said it: "For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole." (Job 5:18)