Dear Church,
The kids and I recently returned from an Alaskan cruise with my family. Breath taking, peaceful and beautiful are just a few of the words that I would use to describe what we saw.
During our stop in Skagway, we took an excursion to learn about and interact with a sled dog team. Before we could see or meet the dogs, we spent time hearing from the musher (the sled driver) about the 1049-mile Iditarod race. It was obvious from the start that the primary goal of the musher is not the speed or the place but keeping the dog team safe and cared for. The musher talked about her routine when she reaches a check point with a required rest time. She first makes straw beds for the dogs, checks their paws for injuries, massages their legs, makes their food, covers them in blankets for their 5-6 hours of sleep. After all of this, the musher eats and gets 1-2 hours of sleep before beginning to prepare for the next day. Along the trail, the musher has to stay focused not only on the trail, but also on the well-being of each of the 14 dogs, watching to see if any need a rest in the sled, a stop for a drink or a new set of booties put on their feet. The care for these dogs is intense and deep.
When we finally met the dogs, we got to watch a quick demonstration around a short course. We saw that the musher had two short commands, gee and haw, the commands to turn right and left. We also witnessed that the musher didn’t have to shout the commands or use a stern voice, it was a quick but gentle word and the whole team would go right or left, because of their relationship and training.
Back on the bus I was reflecting on the relationship between the musher and her dogs and the opening verse of Psalm 23 came to my head, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” I have never had the chance to talk to a shepherd or hear firsthand about their care for their sheep, but after that day I will hear the words of the Psalmist, “The Lord is my musher, I shall not want.” The Lord is my provider, protector, care giver, bed maker, feeder, healer and the one that will carry me when I am too weary to walk. The Lord’s love for me is deeper than any I could seek to understand but can daily experience.
With such a leader, I must ask myself if I am listening for the Lord’s short but gentle commands for me, that will keep me safe and on the path that takes me where I need to go? Do I have the obedience to not ask questions, but to follow in faith? Am I working to develop such a relationship with the Lord that we move in sync and across the finish line together? Read Psalm 23 with new eyes and pray a prayer of thanks to our shepherd and musher, the one true God.
Blessings, Pastor Stacy