The comment is often made that to relish the journey is as important as reaching the destination. That could not be more true than this past weekend as I traveled to a speaking appointment in Liverpool.
Traveling along the back roads of the M49, I reveled in the profusion of blossoms and budding trees, the verdant valleys and hillsides - all nature coming alive following the cold hibernation of winter. But what most delighted my senses was coming upon newborn lambs. They do more than frolic and play - they literally spring straight into the air as if their wobbly little limbs are attached to coils. This action is referred to as gambolling.
Sheep have three curious markings placed on them throughout the mating season. The first scoring - typically a blue powder - is painted on the underside of the ram so as to indicate when he has mounted a ewe - to be alert to her possible pregnancy. A colour marking is placed on the ewe once the shepherd runs an ultrasound to discover if she is carrying one, two or three embryo - so that he can take the steps necessary to prepare for the impending delivery. (Most sheep deliver twins.) And a final marking, a large number is placed on the ewe to match her up to her newborn lambs, so that there is no mistaking who belongs to whom.
Now, doesn't all this make a fine sermon - we being marked by the Shepherd's blood so as to distinguish us as sheep of his pasture. That, in fact, is our goal at Newbold College - introducing sheep to the Good Shepherd (John 10), to convince young people of God's loving care (Luke 15:1-7), and to have them commit to a lifetime of following him (Psalm 23).
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