Deep thoughts on a sheep fold

Wow, it has been forever since I have written in this thing... 8 months or more? I'm surprised that I was blogging my "Most recent problem." Pretty dang negative thinkin if you ask me... well, if you ask me NOW that I've been working the 12 steps and know better than to stay in the problem instead of the solution. Hey, another great wit from Terry Goodkind, who's characters always say "Think of the solution, not the problem." Anyhow, I'm going to try to start posting Bible study and other misc insights here. Wish me... or pray me luck! Here comes my first... _____________________________________ Yesterday, in John 9, the main thing that stood out to me was in verse 7 where Jesus was healing a blind man and told him to go to the pool of Siloam, which the scripture says means "sent." That really struck me because in order to be healed, he in a sense had to be "sent" and be obedient to that calling. It makes me think of how we need to obey God's call on us in order for our problems and difficulties to be healed. Today I'm in John 10 which starts with Jesus describing his relationship with his sheep. I love this: 1. The shepard enters through the gate - he's honest and straightforward, not trying to hide anything by sneaking in. What you see is what you get. 2. The sheep hear his voice - those of us who are chosen hear him and know he is the only one who can help us 3. and come to him - not only do they recognize him, but they humble themselves, give up their own will, and come to him 4. He calls them by name - Yes! He knows us intimately! 5. and leads them out - He doesn't leave us where we are, but guides us out of the safe pins we place ourselves in, or are placed in, out into fresh fields and calm waters which may be scary and new, but which always teach us growth. 6. he walks ahead of them - He is our guide! There is no where we can go that he has not been there first, and in fact is right in front of us! Later he expands the analogy and says that he is the gate! This is really cool and makes more since to me now than ever because of the kind of dualism I've been learning through the 12 step program, fiction novels, and philosophy. Because of who God/Jesus/Holy Spirit is, he IS rigorous honesty, love, trustworthiness, etc. The Gate is a method of honest approach, done in the right time and in the right order. Picture a high walled pin with a single gate. Imagine that those walls are the boundaries of acceptable and healthy behavior. The gate is the one method available by which to get "out" or to "get what you want" without crossing those boundaries of healthy behavior. Jesus is saying HE IS THAT GATE because HE IS LOVE, HEALTHY BEHAVIOR, ETC. So, not only is he the one who COMES TO US honesty, he is, by virtue of who he is, that one path which is healthy and loving by which we may progress ahead. I want to hit on this just a little more. When you have any white, creamy liquid produced by a cows utters, you know you have milk. All milk is milk. There is not some milk which is not milk, if it is milk. You do not say "this cup is milk, but that cup is something else" unless of course it is not a white, creamy liquid produced by a cows utters. In the same way, there is a very real and spiritual since in which "All love is God because God is love." The love we feel for each other, that people feel for one another, is in fact (if it is real love and not selfishness disguised as love = jumping the fence :D) a sharing in God! Yes, hindus, atheists, muslims, whatever... if they experience genuine love for one another, they are in fact experiencing God, whether they know it or accept it or not. If it IS real love, it is also God's love. I think this is one of the main reasons the 12 steps work no mater how you define your higher power. If you HP is a good HP defined by healthy, loving actions, then you are experiencing God, even if only in part.