Can Sheep Fly?
Sheep, as a general rule, have trouble with a lot of things, but if we consider "racing" as sort of flying, then Yes, sheep can fly, "kinda, sorta" ... Racehorses break from the starting line and charge for the finish line. Racing sheep (Oh yeah, there are Sheep Races) usually prefer to "amble." An English farmer claims one of his racing rams established a world record by covering a 220-yard course (which included a ewe-turn) in just 17 seconds. (text by Eric Shackle)
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew {their} strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run
and not be weary; {and} they shall walk and not faint."
One definition of "fly" is to go to or from a place with top speed. We have already established that there really are "racing" sheep; so, mounting up with wings as eagles is entirely within our capabilities as fast-ambling, Nike-wearing, wool-flying, track-running, 17-second, record-breaking, sheep!
We have an "itty bitty" problem. Sheep have a natural inbred instinct to follow the sheep in front of them, even if it's headed off the edge of a 100-foot drop. So, herein, is our trouble. If "woolly Wilber" decides to go the wrong way, we're "hosed!"
The solution is the Shepherd. Sheep have to have a Shepherd. At the end of the day, the Shepherd checks them one by one, removing the nettles and burrs from their tangled matted wool. He goes ahead of them and dams up the river, because sheep won't drink from running water. The Shepherd carries a sling to defend himself and the flock from wild animals; he has a flute to entertain himself and calm the sheep; he has a rod about a yard/meter long with a knob at one end; and he uses the very important staff with a crook to wrangle the sheep around the neck and rescue them from thicks and briars. The sheep know the Shepherd's voice and they will not follow another, unless they are sick; and then they will follow anyone. Sheep must have a Shepherd for direction and that all-important "flight plan."
The scripture says, "they that wait," shall mount up ... shall run ..." This brings up an interesting thing about God. With our Lord, up means down; receive means give; to climb higher means to bow lower. He said while we are waiting, we'll be running! Waiting reminds us of, "Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) One definition of wait is to "stop and allow someone else to catch up." So, while we are having church in our homes and teaching the Gospel to our neighbors, we are allowing new souls to catch up; we're waiting on the Lord; we're "being still" and mounting up or "running" at the same time. The word "run" also means to perform or accomplish something.
We "wait" and we mount up with wings; we "stand still" and we run; it's the inconceivable, irreconcilable, impossible but probable, law of Almighty God. Oh, woolly sheep that we are; our feathers are a little clumpy, and we don't look quite as graceful as that soaring Eagle, but we believe we can fly!
By Sheryl Fowler
(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com,
PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)
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