MICAH 6.8

THE SHEPHERDESS A Continuation of the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd(ess) Sunday Source of the image:  [https://miro.medium.com/max/700/1*wqCd8qe3QYVyzvNF_pXbZA.jpeg] Another story about a Shepherd, a Shepherdess in fact. The story is fiction but real in its message. The narrative contains explicit language, language that makes the story more real. What is it like to be the Shepherdess? What is it like to be the woman portrayed in the psalm? It needs to be read. It needs to be read in its entirety. It needs to be read and thoroughly contemplated until life comes to all, not just some. It needs to be repeated as a rite of reconciliation and an owning of responsibility by those who oppress others, especially men in their misogynistic systems of greed, injustice, racism, xenophobia, sexual assault, and violence. Read the story of the Shepherdess HERE. Source:  Milena Carbone— Second Life fiction, I’m the character of an anonymous writer and photographer in the cloud. I live in the age of those who will be sacrificed. Prayer Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, you are the Shepherdess that cares for all we truly need. The pastures might not always be green, especially on the other side of the fence. The waters may not always be placid, there are storms, there are deluges, there are waters of poison. Yet, you are the one who provides for us our due portion for each day.  You renew our life-breath that our lungs and soul can breathe the essence of your presence and life-giving love. You provide a pathway that is through the justice and peace of your will, on earth, here and now, as it is in heaven. In the truth of your Name, we are a pilgrim people being, yet becoming, what your creation and redemption shall be in the end. Even when our steps take us through thick shadows of burden, suffering, and the reality of our mortality, we need not be in anxiety or despair, for you are there. You are here, in the everything. O Transcending-One, your Immanence is the Mystery we live and share. Comfort is found in your protecting reach and your rescuing embrace. Your arms and hands are never inept as to hold us all, everyone, and to seek the one that is lost and needs to be found. For your flock is us all, without exception, in the community that knows no bias or discrimination. To each, your will is nothing less than equality and equity, where access to all blessings is never narrowed or hidden. Like a meal in the wilderness, manna from heaven, you feed us the bread of life, 'til we want no more. Your table extends to the north and south, to the east and the west, from sun up through sundown, spread with the choicest wine that is exceeded only by your infinite compassion and mercy. We lift the cup of life and drink deeply of your Spirit. It is our calling upon your Name in praise and thanksgiving. Your balm drips gently, anointing us as your people. For once we were not a people, but now we are your people. Once we were individuals, consuming and trading in what we thought was a bargain. Now we are a people, when one of us is hurting, we all hurt together. And, the greatest gift is love. As broken as we are, your healing is poured out like oil upon us. Dripping across even our feet.  Surely goodness and kindness shall kiss and reign supreme within our humbleness, and our abode will be in you—always, all ways, and forever. Blessed are you and blessed is your Kin-Dom forevermore. _________________ I stumbled upon the story and graphic noted above in my research for last Sunday's Good Shepherd Day. It has continued within me all week, bringing tears to my eyes and fire to my heart. It will not let me let it go. So, after much consideration and wrestling with the message, I decided needed to be shared. I searched diligently for both the source of the image and of the story. I found no copyright, but I give full credit to the source as named above, with the link to the website where it was found.