When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
Mark 6:34
When someone I know is lonely, and that's not the same as being alone, it moves my heart to try to come up with a fun project, or to share a meal with them. When I was young, I went to my Granny's house often. She lived alone, and in fact was very lonely. I watched baseball games with her, and she liked to cut articles out of magazines, so we did that.
A shepherd knows about the instincts of sheep, and their behavior patterns are well documented. Sheep like to see each other especially when they are grazing, and a sheep becomes agitated if it is alone. The shepherd can lead the sheep by convincing even one sheep to follow, especially when the shepherd rewards the sheep with food. The sheep will even stop following the human if there is no benefit. For centuries shepherds have led sheep from pasture to pasture and back to the pens for safety.
I'd like to think I was some benefit to my Granny by spending time with her, but she was alone and very lonely. I wish she were still here, so I could pray with her in person, but she has been in my prayer intentions almost every day. As she aged, at times she would have this absent stare and become agititated, and as I watched her, I wonder if she reminded me of that "lost sheep" that sheep without a shepherd. I hope that she is safe now, and comforted.
