Freeing our Inner Sheep

Eileen Donan Castle, Scotland

If you're a Type-A personality or driven in any capacity, it's tough to let loose of the controls in life.

To be a sheep, so to speak.

You could be a busy mom. An overcommitted volunteer. A ministry leader. A climbing executive. A striving writer. The list stretches endless.

Yet in the midst of your daily chaos, don't you find at times that longing to just BE? To let someone else make the decisions? Secure the arrangements? Coordinate all the details?

To simply follow?

After a solid year of intense writing, speaking engagements, working full time, and going non-stop, I needed either a padded cell or a vacation.

I opted for the latter.

A friend and I booked a 10-day tour of Scotland through an excellent tour company. They took care of every detail, booked hotels and flights, and provided a hilarious lady with an endearing Scottish accent as our guide.

Tailor-made, prime sheep time awaited.

Departure day arrived in the nick of time. I was out of energy.
     Empty of fresh ideas.
          Depleted.

In that enchanting land, I allowed my feet to carry me wherever they pleased.

I soaked in stunning architecture. Marveled at amazing centuries-old cathedrals. Unwound during tea time in quaint cafes. I wandered through castles, rolling green hills, and drank in beautiful sunsets.

And my inner sheep was set free again.

At each destination, I allowed myself to simply BE. And the plethora of sheep peacefully grazing in Scottish pastures served to reinforce that mindset.

My mind and heart fully engaged in accomplishing nothing.

Doing so accomplished everything.

I reveled in the freedom of no expectations. No deadline demands.

For a year, I had duct taped my inner sheep's mouth. Hit the mute button just to get everything done. Pushed through deadlines. Completed every task.

Even though it had been a wonder-filled year, my lack of balance drove obligations, commitments, and self-imposed goals to a suffocating point.

My inner sheep bleated like mad, "Give me liberty or give me death!" Well, you get the idea.

Psalm 96:7 tell us, "He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care."

I had been so busy taking care of business that I hadn't allowed my Shepherd to care for me. My inner sheep needed to experience His lush green pastures once again. Breathe in the fresh air of contentment.

We all need time to experience such rejuvination.

Even though I've returned to my daily routine, my inner sheep still grazes in the peaceful, green hills re-planted and re-introduced in my soul during that precious time away.

Fresh ideas abound. A new day has dawned. And I'm so very thankful.

When was the last time you experienced a special time away for renewal and rejuvenation?
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