Mtr Mary Trainor
Out on the road that lies before me now
There are some turns where I will spin…*
Dear friend,
“I am the good shepherd.” This phrase from John’s Gospel today speaks to so many qualities I cherish. Love, fidelity, connection—and recognition of what a good shepherd provides.
The bucolic setting is sure to grab my heart and soul on each encounter. And then I think of the parts of this scene that are not shared—parts that perhaps—when revealed—even better define love, fidelity, connection. Despite the challenges
I only hope that you can hold me now
Till I can gain control again…
Moving each day, sleeping each night with a herd of sheep can be—I assume—a fairly nasty, smelly task. Wet wool and lanolin, mixed with the scent of bodily functions, call for dedication beyond reproach—that is, if you’re going to be a good shepherd, you take them one and all as they are.
Our Good Shepherd offers this same acceptance to us. Not only when we’re dressed for church and have put on our best smile. Not just on the days we feel like winners. But also on days of the messiness and stench of our lives at their lowest moments—and on those deadly turns where we can spin out of control.
Like a lighthouse, you must stand alone
Landmark a sailor’s journey’s end
No matter what seas I have been sailing on
I’ll always roll this way again
—Mtr Mary
In 1981, Rodney Crowell wrote the lyrics to Til I Can Gain Control Again, which went on to bless the lives and careers of many other singers, including one of my very favorites, Emmylou Harris. Here she is…
