doctor's life support

10th April: My Shepherd (4 cont'd)

He restores my soul. Psalm 23:3

It is not only our relationship with the Shepherd that may need restoring, but our attitude towards the other sheep. Sheer fatigue as much as shifted focus can make us cross, crabby or complaining and adversely affect our working relationships. Is the receptionist suddenly a little cooler, or the telephonist unusually abrupt? For full restoration, such damaged relationships may need attention, apology or explanation. The Shepherd will do the necessary prompting if we are willing to hear him. It may be in such simple ways that he is going to reach someone else who was first alerted to look for him because of our humble attempts at reconciliation.

If tension is becoming a recurrent problem, it may be sanity that needs to be restored as much as spirituality. Restoration then may come through recreation as well as repentance. A return visit to the green pastures and still waters, even for half a day, can put us back onto the path with renewed vigour, confident of his continued leading, feeding and restoring. He has promised never to put us to more strain that can be borne (1 Cor 10:13). He is always ready to restore.

Come ye and rest; the journey is too great,
And ye will faint beside the way and sink;
The bread of life is here for you to eat,
And here for you the wine of love to drink.

E H Bickersteth

Further reading: 1 Ki 19:4-8. Is 40:28-31.

JG