The Weight Of Wool
When the weight we allow to cling closely leaves us blind, endangered, and in desperate need of a trim, we can trust the Shepherd Who holds the shears.
I’ve been reading a lot about sheep lately. Not on purpose, per se. I didn’t set out to learn more about sheep and shepherds, but in God’s providence, I ended up here. It began by desiring to read a quick leisure book. A welcomed break from the academic literature I’ve been reading for college. I perused through my stack of thrifted books that are more conversational in nature (not to mention, smaller in size). I eventually narrowed the choices down to three, finally settling on the smallest one, titled, “A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23” by Phillip Keller. I settled into a cozy spot and began reading. The following week themes of sheep and shepherds kept popping up as I went about my days. Feeling inspired to journal about what I was pondering in my readings, I grabbed my nearest and newest journal. Upon retrieving it I read the cover, “He restores my soul”. Inscribed on the back was a portion of Psalm 23.
What did I write about in my journal?
Sheep’s wool.
What happens when a sheep’s wool is overgrown? What is the real problem with a little overgrowth; with avoiding a trim?
Turns out, a lot.
And I’ve written about it below…
The Weight of Wool
A sheep who’s wool has overgrown is in real danger. For one, they are virtually blind and unable to see their surroundings, and therefore, threats. If the wool has grown over a sheep’s eyes, they will not be able to see the cliff before them, the rocky ledge beside him, the predator lurking behind him, or the way to green pastures before him. The sheep is always dependent upon their shepherd. Constantly. Wandering off from the sheepfold and evading the shepherd and his shears spares not the comfort one envisions it will. It is the opposite. Further, there is a weight to wool. Overgrown wool is burdensome to carry. It’s an unnecessary load. It slows down the sheep, which is a hindrance to the sheep and an advantage to its predators. What’s more, the unruly overgrowth is teeming with infestations, filth, and danger. Including mud, manure, ticks, and other unpleasantries of which you can imagine. The weight of the wool is compounded by what is acquired along the sheep’s wayward way. Things that stick and stay. Things that harm when not taken care of properly and sufficiently by way of the Shepherd’s skillful tending and shearing; a work employed at specific time, in love, to set the sheep free from its accumulated burden. Much more could be observed and outlined I’m sure, but this isn’t a scholarly entry of sheep and their surroundings. Rather, like Jesus’ parables demonstrate, my writing is a humble effort to better know God (Shepherd), ourselves (sheep) and the Shepherd King’s Kingdom through the language Scripture presents.
Perhaps you have read the above and, like me, you resonate with this message of the weight of the overgrown “wool” that’s clinging to you. Rather than trusting your Shepherd King Jesus to remove what hinders you and endangers you, you’ve found solace in it instead of in Him. You’ve run with the weight and have inevitably found that the surroundings of this world in which you are immersed have begun to stick, to endanger, and to wear you down. Perhaps you’ve grown increasingly blind, even indifferent to your surroundings and the ways of this world.
It’s God’s grace that has made you and I aware. Though, perhaps, you are yet unsure of the way back to Him. Maybe through various circumstances you’re even cast down like a sheep on its back rendered unable to move altogether.
Take heart.
Your Shepherd knows His sheep. Your way and frame has never been hidden or unknown to Him. When you call out to this Shepherd - even as His name is still on your lips - you’ll find that He has already come running to you, in pursuit of You, to rescue you.
His hook draws you out. His rod protects you. His strong arms right you and carry you home with Him. Despite the stench of manure, the uncleanliness of your wool, and the harsh thistles and thorns embedded therein, He presses you to His chest tightly despite it all. Just as the thorns about His head did not deter Him from rescuing you once and for all then, neither will your thistle infused, weighty wool deters Him from hoisting you onto His shoulders now.
If you are in Christ, remember: He rescued your soul eternally at the cross of Golgotha, crucified outside the gate, that He might usher you into His sheep pen, through the narrow gate Himself. In the safety of His care, He takes to cleaning you up Himself. In love, He both reorients you to Himself and restores you to glory. From one degree to another He shears away that which; weighs you down, endangers your soul, and blinds you from Him and His righteous paths.
Beloved, trust this Shepherd Who loves you dearly, ardently, and unceasingly. The greatest love you’ll ever know. Know His love, His nature, His presence and power which is toward you in Christ Jesus and makes you secure and free.
Never has more delight been found than in the Shepherd and in His faithful Shepherd’s hands. Hands with holes, showing His sacrificial love, welcoming us to trust Him as He wields His shears for His glory and our good.
This week read and meditate on:
- Psalm 23
- Hebrews 12
Written by Lizzy Blanchard
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