#easter thoughts

they have four sheep. Cosmos, Damian, Aggie, and Maggie.

they’re incredibly sweet and pettable and I miss the sheep BUT. what really got me is what one of the novices pointed out to me later.

the parable of the lost sheep is not about lambs, which are small and cute. it’s about SHEEP.

sheep, it turns out, are large and heavy and woolly and smelly. it takes a strong shepherd to pick one up, to carry one back to the herd.

and Christ is a strong shepherd. He can carry the sheep, no matter how sin-laden. He knew what he was talking about with sheep. He knew a sheep was no small thing.

also, sheep do not worry about being sheep. in fact they worry about very little. and they have an excellent time.

You suddenly have it all figured out

Everything should feel happy and light

You should suddenly be absolutely ok

You have to be the most pious

You have to be greatful 24/7

That the world isn't still a fucked up place

That you're expected to be perfect because the mourning is over

of love of peace of respect of being who we are

regardless of gender of sexuality of religion of race

why is peace so far from us why do we oppress

Because it isn’t contrary to the laws of nature. Not really. Last year’s leaves grow this year’s trees. Each year things pass away, only to live again in Spring. The natural world is built to grow life from decay, and to sow hope where there was none.