Luke 15:4-5 

4 “Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

 

Sheepdog

 

I guess I’m not what I need to be

always running ... around the flock

that’s the purpose ... that I see,

looking for strays around the block.

 

I find the strays ... some hurt, some down

and some are almost dead.

I lick their wounds and patch them up

and hope to bring some rest.

 

It seems that I’m the only dog,

who looks for those who’re down.

Do I care really much more

than all the other hounds?

 

Do they only see the sheep that are up

and they push them where to go?

Sometimes they’ll pick up a stray

abandoned by others long ago.

 

By ones who were just like us

only looking for the strong

who depend on flesh and bones

to get where they belong.

 

They take them into their own flock

and celebrate their find.

It takes the place of another sheep

that was hurt and left behind.

 

Is now the time to shoot that dog

that always brings to mind

the hurt and wounded left along the way

just because he is kind?

 

I guess ... that’s why they killed the Lord.

He cared for all He could find.

To soothe and heal the desperate ones

to make them His own kind.

 

Jan Wienen