Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.  When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in, the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.  You will have plenty of goats' milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls (Proverbs 27:23-27).

Lately I've been talking with some of the sheep from my flock (that is, some parishioners from the church which I lead) -- and I have to be honest with you:  the conversations have not been pleasant.  In fact, they've been painful.  My leadership has been challenged and criticized (not necessarily unfairly).  The trajectory of our ministry has been questioned.  And I've been occasionally torched in the process.  I understand, of course, that sheep bleat sometimes, and it's just a part of the shepherd's soundtrack for life; but even so, it can be challenging to respond well in these criticial circumstances.  In one of these recent conversations, for instance, the criticism became so heavy and overwhelming that I asked if I could start taking notes -- just to make sure that I wasn't missing anything.  And after two more hours of conversation, I had listed out 18 specific questions / accusations -- filling four pages worth of notes in my journal.  And apparently, this list could have been several times longer, if time had allowed!  In other conversations, there have been tears, curses, and threats pouring out like monsoon rains.  To say the least, I've been experiencing the darker side of pastoral (shepherdly) ministry.

Fortunately, these things are cyclical.  There have been other times in ministry when I've been continually awed, invigorated, and excited to serve as the shepherd of a flock of God's sheep:  watching little lambs be born and take their first steps, shearing the wool off the older sheep so that new growth can take place, leading the flock through breathtaking spiritual scenery in the service of the Chief Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18).

I've been doing the pastoring / shepherding thing long enough now to know that all of these things come with the territory.  But even so, it's remarkable to read Proverbs 27:23-27 and challenge myself to consider its implications for my work in spiritual shepherding (not to mention other areas such as parenting and financial management!).  In times of difficulty -- like I've been experiencing lately -- it's important to remember that new growth comes in season.  The lambs and goats that require so much care and consideration in this season are the primary sources of provision and plenty in the next season.  But by the same token, in the times of abundance it's important to remember that shepherding requires vigilence.  If careful attention is not given to the herds, and the flock is not stewarded wisely, then decline is sure to follow.  And in any event, shepherding is an ongoing process!  Therefore, it is a shepherd's job to be sure to know the condition of his flocks and give careful attention to his herds.  The job may not always be fun -- and it certainly won't be easy -- but when the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in... well, that's a very sweet sensation indeed.