Chasing sheep

Today started off great! I was moving my car to allow a friend who is coming into town to park in my spot. Nyla was giving me her big "take me with you" eyes, so I decided to let her come on the short ride to the back of my house. She has been very good about staying with me unleashed, so I didn't bother. She jumped in the car like a good puppy dog, and we drove to my back driveway. I opened her door to let her out so we could start making the trek back inside and she got out of the car, looked at me and ran the other way!

My heart stopped because I knew if she kept running on this path she would end up in the middle of traffic on University Avenue. I chased after her yelling for her to come back. She would look at me and keep on running.

After several failed attempts of trying to get her back I began to use my very loud, very serious voice (the kind of voice you would say of a mother who used it in a store "my goodness what kind of mother is she?"). Soooo...that also didn't work. I then took off my flip flops to run faster, and as I did, she did. Nothing seemed to be working, so out of breath I slowed down, and she did as well. I started calling to her in my "come let me pet you" kind of voice and started walking very slowly to her and she slowly and hesitantly came to me. I got a hold of her (and she knew she was in trouble) and attempted to bring her home by holding her collar. That wasn't working out well for me as I was leaning awkwardly and she would periodically stop. So I knelt down, scooped up my 55-60 lb. dog, and carried her home.

When we finally got inside, and I put her in her pen, I tried to catch my breath and stabilize my now jello limbs and I had to think "Is this what Jesus meant when he told how the Shepherd goes after his sheep and brings them home?"

As I reflect on that and think about the past week I can see how God has called us to go after his lost sheep and guide them home before they run out into traffic. God is the one who gives us the direction and tells us who to search for, but we are like his shepherd side kicks, sent out to find them and lead them to the shepherd.

We also have to remember that it is their decision to come to Him. We can yell and scream and run after them as much as we want to, but more often than not we will scare them away. It is only through, prayer, patience, and a loving spirit that we will be able to guide people to the Shepherd, who will carry them the rest of the way.

Much work has been done at WVU in the last 2 weeks, but there is still more to be done. I'm just glad we don't have to carry any students!