Shepherds, Mowers, Fishermen and Dancing…

I caught the end of ‘Countryfile’ last night. Next week there’s to be the annual sheepdog trials competition. I remember many years ago watching ‘One Man and his Dog’… I googled it.

Apparently ‘Shepherds met for the first time in October 1873, in a field near Bala, Wales, to test their skills and compare their collies…One Man and His Dog was first aired on 17 February 1976… One Man and His Dog merged with Countryfile in 2013.’

I’m diverted from thinking sensibly. I start singing ‘One Man and His Dog’ went to mow a meadow…

This morning I read… Jesus encounters Peter on the shore of the lake. Peter had denied knowing Jesus… Jesus had died and come back to life… Jesus asks Peter: ‘Do you love me?’

I’m diverted again from thinking sensibly. I start singing ‘Do you love me?’ I first heard Brian Poole’s version 60 years ago… then Dirty Dancing, Blues Brothers…

I refocus – Jesus asks Peter ‘Do you love me?’ Peter says, ‘You know I do.’ Jesus says, ‘Feed my lambs.’ …The story continues…

I pause, musing. Why is Jesus asking Peter, the fisherman, to become a shepherd?

…Practical: Both fishing and shepherding are skilful active endeavours demanding effort and participation; you can’t ‘work from home or be a theoretical practitioner.  

…Patience and persistence: Both take time, practice and understanding to do well. Mistakes and difficulties result in greater determination and more skill.

…Pastoral: Perhaps Jesus is asking the opportunist fisherman to become a loving, caring shepherd, providing for His sheep, feeding His lambs…

Musing on my Diversions…

‘Do you love me – now that I can dance?’ It’s a conditional love. Shepherd love isn’t dependent on whether the person (or sheep!) can dance – or do anything special.

‘One man and his dog’ finishes with ten men mowing the meadow… they work together as a team. Although love is individual, we thrive when together we care for each other… and Jesus says that we’re His sheep.