Sheep C Discovers We are All Sheep and We are All Blind

Yes, I know, I am not an artist. But you have no idea how therapeutic making these little drawings were! For years I was "on top of the world," knowing that I lived a charmed life. But the year 2007 brought with it the yank of the rug right out from under my feet, and life has never been the same since. (Please forgive...I know the rule against all those metaphors, but I like my little pix, and I'm trying to tie them in here).

In the Book of Revelation, 3:17, God says to the church of Laodicea:

You say, "I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing." But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked...

That was me, pre-2007. Oh, I knew that verse was lurking there. Our church had heard this taught many times. Our pastor realized that this was not just Laodicea He was talking about; it was us all. I knew that, too--intellectually at least. I just did not really realize it applied to me!!

But, I'm here to tell you, that we are all blind. Jesus wasn't kidding when He admonished us that we don't have any control over our future (Matthew 6:25, et seq). I don't have any handle whatsoever on the "don't worry" part of that passage, and if you read this blog regularly, you are sure to see signs of worry, I guarantee you. But these past two years have brought me to realize that life happens. We are just along for the ride.

The two other sheep who write in this blog have had similar experiences, although I was the last one to be dragged into the Trouble Fold. They were dear friends to me before my life fell apart, and so they remain. We encourage each other and, in watching each other's lives take hits, too, have come to understand that God is not picking on each of us particularly, although sometimes it sure feels personal to me.

And I think that's what this little blog is about: Our blind helplessness in life's turmoil and the importance of the flock and what little insights we have gleaned from it all (realizing all the time that insight is chancy--we are, after all, blind).

But I don't think you should look for only "woe is me" in these writings, because we have a whole lot to be joyful over, and I'm praying you'll find that here, too! But for now I'm thinking of an Isak Dinesen quote from her wonderful book, Out of Africa: "Maybe God made the world round so that we cannot see very far down the road..."

Certainly I've been blindsided, and I'm trusting God just a bit more now, understanding that I'm just not very wise! - Sheep C, 12/8/08