From a sheep and a goat .....

"That is the most ridiculous idea I have ever heard - and I live in a herd. A goat become a sheep? What do I do? Change my coat and my horns - not to mention my hooves? Change my whole being? I've never heard such a thing - and as I said, I live in a herd.

"Yeh, but Jesus would like you to live in his fold."

"Why would I want to do that? I like to run all over the hills. I don't want to be stuck in a sheep fold. Same place all the time with a load of sheep?! Boring. That's what that would be."

"Well, it's either that or the fiery furnace."

"Oh stop being so smug. Just because you were born a sheep. I don't believe it. I simply don't believe that I'm going to end up in the fiery furnace because I was born a goat. If your God created me as well as you, then why am I not loved just as much as you are?"

"He does. He'd just like you to get to know him better and he'd also like to work on some of those not so nice characteristics, that's all."

"Like what?"

"Stubbornness."

"That's exaggerated. We're not nearly so bad as some folk make out and I like to think of it as determination. That's useful sometimes - and are you trying to tell me you're perfect? I don't believe that either."

"No, I'm not perfect, I'm a work in progress. I'm under construction, being developed. Look, it's not that God doesn't love you. And I really don't think you have to give up being a goat to avoid the fiery furnace. Look, let's take the fiery furnace out of the equation. Think of it like this. You have a chance to get to know the God who created the universe. Is that not an amazing prospect? You can ask questions - and get answers. You will be in his care and in his fold is a really good place to be. There are so many exciting reasons to join the fold. Honestly. I can't say anything else but I am speaking from experience. You can't have any idea of how wonderful it is until you experience it for yourself. That's the tricky bit. Make the decision and you'll see it's a really good place to be."

"But I like to wander about the hillside on my own or with the other goats. Now that I think of it, you wander about the hillside with the other sheep."

"You seem to be under the impression that if you come into the fold, you're in for a dull life, just eating grass in the same place all the time, surrounded by other sheep eating the same

It's not like that - in fact, it's not like that at all."

"What is it like then? Tell me in a way that I can understand. Tell me in a way I can get excited about but not scared out of my wits."

"Life with The Shepherd isn't boring. How could it be when he was involved in the creation of the universe? Do you ever look at the stars? He made them and think about it - He wants to know you and you to know him. That cannot be boring AND he sends his sheep to lots of different places - places you wouldn't dream of. It doesn't matter where you are. You can be anywhere in the world, but you're still in The Shepherd's fold. Once you decide to come into the fold, Jesus will never abandon you.

"Really? Getting to know The Shepherd does sound quite interesting. I'd like to think I could have an exciting life even if I am a goat and not a sheep. If I did meet up with this Shepherd - I'm only saying IF I did, I wouldn't have to look like you, would I? I try not to be vain, but I am rather a handsome goat."

"No, you won't have to look like me, although vanity aside, I am rather a handsome sheep, don't you know? And can I also say, you're very good at telling me what you don't believe, but have you ever thought about what you do believe? Look, why don't you come and meet my friend Jesus? Then you can decide."

"Who is the Jesus anyway? That's the second time you've mentioned his name."

"He's The Shepherd. I never heard him described as a goatherd but I'm sure he'll be pleased to meet you. Walk this way...."

"Eh, just one more thing. If I'm becoming a sheep, so to speak, won't that mean that I'll have to go on the right foot as well? Bit awkward that, don't you think?"

"Symbolism, my friendly goat, just symbolism. You may be on the left foot but you're on Jesus' right hand and we wouldn't want the left foot to get cold now, would we?"

"Sheep, what you said about Jesus never abandoning you. Never ever? Is that for real?"

"Yep. Even on the steepest slope and the highest hill. The deepest glen and the odd bit of level ground. And do you know what? God created the slopes, the hills, glens and level ground as well as you and me."

"So God's up here with me, already."

"And here with me. Always. Now, there's a wonder."

Hello there. Goat here again.

I’ve been wondering what sort of a welcome I’d get from God if I did decide to “become a sheep,” come into Jesus fold or however it works. I wondered if I’d get put in the naughty corner for a while depending on how bad I’d been. Well, who wants to get into trouble. If there was going to be any of that sort of thing, I don’t think I’d want to go through the process of becoming a sheep. Well, would you?

I asked The Sheep and she told me this story.

"Bring the best robe and put it on him .…. Let's have a feast and celebrate!" Luke 15, 22 - 24

THE PRODIGAL'S TALE

I only asked to be allowed to be a hired worker. That was all I expected and I truly think I would have been content with that. Content? To have food and shelter and be well clothed would have been luxury beyond my imagining. But when I returned to him, my Father restored me as his son and what's more he celebrated.

I thought he would condemn me. I expected it. I feared it. I think it was that fear of condemnation that had stopped me from going home for so long. After all I'd ruined everything I'd been given. Lost everything I had asked for. I deserved to be condemned. I could only go back when I had gone beyond concern for my own humiliation.

It would be nice to be able to say that I hadn't meant to lose it all, well I didn't MEAN to lose it all. I just set out to have a good time, to enjoy myself, to have people think I was wonderful and I thought living the high life and throwing myself and my wealth about was the way to do it. I was fed up with life at home. Nothing ever happened. I thought I had enough money to last for ever - if I thought about forever. I don't think I thought beyond the next party. So how did I end up looking after the pigs? Well, the money ran out didn't it? Didn't last anywhere like as long as I'd thought it would. It wouldn't - the way I was spending it and there I was feeding the pigs and they were better fed and cared for than I was.

Eventually it came to me that I should go back to my Father - not as a son, I'd lost that right, or thought I had, but as a worker. My Father cares for his workers, not just his sons. I'd have a roof over my head and food to eat and decent clothes to wear a nd if I couldn't have the privileges of a son, well, that was no one's fault but my own, and I'd just have to live with it.

Even then, when I'd made the decision to go back, to return the way I had come, I was afraid. It was only the determination of the decision that kept me going in the right direction and despite all the doubts and all the fears that came on that

journey home, there was no other road I could take. I would have been content to be a worker in my Father's house. I really would have. It never entered my head that I could ever have been anything more. I had been so wrong. I had wronged my Father and wronged his whole household. I didn't deserve to be allowed back.

At least I had done a lot of thinking while I was looking after the pigs and I thought I had done a lot of understanding. But I don't think I'll ever fully understand my Father's reaction when he saw me. He could have had me turned away at the gate - told his servants not to admit me. He might have told them to give me the cold shoulder, to make it difficult and only let me in reluctantly. He could have kept me waiting outside until he was ready to see me. There was none of that. He didn't even send me to be cleaned up before he was willing to see me.

I had imagined all the ways I might be greeted when I arrived home - I never thought of the way it actually happened.

My Father ran to me. Let me say that again. My Father ran to me. Do you know how amazing that is? I didn't get even half way through what I had planned to say before my Father called for a robe for me, for sandals for my feet, and a ring, a ring, for my finger. How precious that gift of the ring was. And then the party - for me.

I still wonder at it, more and more. He ran to me. I was the sinner, I had messed up but he welcomed me home.

Now, I see that pain I inflicted on my Father through the eyes of my brother. He hasn't forgiven me. I can't blame him and if nothing else, he's teaching me patience. I hope one day he will forgive me, and then I'll throw a party for him. I pray it will be soon so that our Mother may see us reconciled and we will all know the joy of my Father's generous grace.

THE BROTHER'S TALE.

Reconciled to my brother - I don't think so.

Has he any idea of the trouble he's caused - the hurt, the pain?

I swore I would never cause my mother and father so much pain.

What a mess he was when he came back. I didn't witness his return, of course. I was out in the field working but the servants told me and I did see his “clothes” before they were flung on the fire. Maybe if my first sight had been of him in rags and not robes, I might have had more sympathy for him. Or maybe I'd just have been ashamed of him. He was thin, like he hadn't eaten properly for years. It'll take him months to recover any sort of strength so that he's of any use to anyone again, if he ever is.

But if the state he came back in was a shock to all of us - my Father's reaction was a bigger shock to me.

Has he gone soft in the head or what? He ran to meet him - didn't wait to hear what he had to say for himself. Didn't even wait for him to beg forgiveness. Just ran to him and then when my brother did say he was sorry, it was - "bring the best robe, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet."

And then my Father threw a party - and now they're all so happy - except me. I just don't understand how my Father can forgive my brother the way he has. I never got a party, never once. Oh, it's all very well for my Father to say I should have asked - I didn't think it was my place to ask for anything. I didn't think my Father should give me anything. I was just there to serve, to do what needed to be done. What did he mean - “everything I have is yours." I never looked at it like that. I just thought that it was my Father's, nothing to do with me really.

Maybe I should have asked for something - if my Father likes to give so much - maybe I should have asked for something. I suppose I still can. What can I ask for? I could ask him to take away the pain of the last few years. I’m not really bothered about a party but I'd like to get rid of the pain and the hurt and the resentment I feel every time I look at my brother and since he's welcomed him home, I feel that every time I look at my Father. If my Father could take that away, that would be cause to celebrate.

A last word from the Goat

Well, What do you make of that?

I know I’ll have to think about all that. What a way for a son to treat his father. And in the end what a way for a father to treat his son. A son who turned his back on him and demanded his inheritance too. and went off and wasted it.

I’ll bet those clothes felt good after the filthy rags he’d been wearing for so long. Shoes on his feet and a ring on his finger! What must that have felt like? Can you imagine that? I hope he had a bath! Sorry. I’m sure he did. It probably felt like he’d had one as soon as his father put the cloak round his shoulder. I wonder if they both wept when the father put the ring on his son’s finger? Can you just imagine the scene? Just think about that for a wee while. Imagine you’re the son. Even imagine you’re the father. Can you think of loving someone so much that even when they’ve hurt you so much and wasted so much of their life and your money, you can welcome them home in that way.

It must have taken a lot for him to decide to go back to his father especially with a brother who reacted like that. I wonder if he knew how his brother would react. I mean, if you went off and did what he did, how would you feel about making your way back when you’d made such a mess of your life and inheritance. Maybe he thought he’d get a better welcome from his brother.

I’d liked to have heard from his mother, but maybe she was dead - or maybe she was the one who cooked the fatted calf. I hope so.

I hope the brother did come round and know the riches of a generous, loving and forgiving father. I never thought like this before. Oh dear, what’s happening to me!!!??? Do you think I could be becoming a sheep? Coming into the fold? Oh well, Here goes. Through the gate I go. Wonder if my voice will change. Might get a bit softer.

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