The Burden of Restoration
Here are a few quotes that I underlined in reading:
"'A lost sheep will lie down helplessly and refuse to budge. The shepherd is forced to carry it over a long distance.' Surprisingly, the shepherd rejoices in the burden of restoration still before him... After the sheep is found it must be restored. It is the restoration with its implied burden and expressed joy that is the center of the second stanza and thus the climax of the entire poem."
"The lost sheep is a community loss."
"There is joy at finding the sheep, irrespective of the burden of restoration, and joy in community at the success at restoration."
All of this has challenged me. Restoration undoubtedly comes with a burden.
Right now the ways I am being challenged in ministry seems difficult to apply to what this summer entails. God has been leading us in the restoring work of finding the lost sheep in regard to social justice and discussing systemic issues. This comes with its own unique burden, and let me tell you the joy is unreal in the restoration process, and people begin to feel alive for the first time when they're brought home into a loving, accepting community.
Are we people that bear this burden? From all I've been told my role as a barney coordinator is going to be the bearer of the barney's burdens, and that will get draining at times. God I pray to rejoice through it all. That the respective communities each barney finds themselves in the future can have joy in their restoration. And the barney team rejoices in that as well, as we are all restored throughout the summer.
"'A lost sheep will lie down helplessly and refuse to budge. The shepherd is forced to carry it over a long distance.' Surprisingly, the shepherd rejoices in the burden of restoration still before him... After the sheep is found it must be restored. It is the restoration with its implied burden and expressed joy that is the center of the second stanza and thus the climax of the entire poem."
"The lost sheep is a community loss."
"There is joy at finding the sheep, irrespective of the burden of restoration, and joy in community at the success at restoration."
All of this has challenged me. Restoration undoubtedly comes with a burden.
Right now the ways I am being challenged in ministry seems difficult to apply to what this summer entails. God has been leading us in the restoring work of finding the lost sheep in regard to social justice and discussing systemic issues. This comes with its own unique burden, and let me tell you the joy is unreal in the restoration process, and people begin to feel alive for the first time when they're brought home into a loving, accepting community.
Are we people that bear this burden? From all I've been told my role as a barney coordinator is going to be the bearer of the barney's burdens, and that will get draining at times. God I pray to rejoice through it all. That the respective communities each barney finds themselves in the future can have joy in their restoration. And the barney team rejoices in that as well, as we are all restored throughout the summer.
Love this, Lauren! It’s joy for everyone involved!! I think that’s hard to see and believe sometimes in this world that we live in but we should EXPECT that God’s joy is felt with everyone and at every step! I admire the barney coordinator position in that they take on the shepherding role so literally. Can’t wait to see what God does through you for those sheep this summer!
ReplyDeleteAmen. Praying that prayer with you Lauren.
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