I’ve been misreading the 23rd Psalm. The most familiar of all. Yet I’ve goofed in understanding it. How? You know the opening words–‘The Lord is my shepherd…’ (Psalm 23:1). And Jesus speaking–‘I am the good shepherd’ (John 10:11). Who’s the shepherd? Obviously, God. And Jesus, God’s Son. So where are my crossed wires? Lend me your ears.

When renting the 15th-century ‘Old Manor House’ in Droitwich, England, we’re thrilled that the owner allows sheep to graze on all the lawns of his multi-acre property, nestled behind a walled mound that was a Roman moat. We get a kick out of watching their ambling along and rambling around, eating away munching on plums and apples, lazily lying down, then getting up to follow the sheep leader to another part of the same field.

One day their shepherd comes to haul them all away. For our evening meal? Perish the thought. When I ask the shepherd, Roy, what he’s up to, he reassures me that it’s mating season. Is he crossing his fingers behind his back, giving us a line of hooey, placating a couple of weak-stomached Americans? Strangely, we never see him or them again. We wonder.

What becomes clear is how obedient those wooly lawnmowers are to their shepherd on that fateful day. When he whistles, they pull up stakes and scram right toward him, cramming themselves, nose to nose like canned sardines, in his van. No rebels in their ranks. No mutiny on the lawns. That’s where I must come clean.

My version of Psalm 23 starts like this: ‘ I am my Lord’s shepherd, I lead…I want…I, I, I.’ Get out of the way. Lightning’s about to strike! For I’m instructing the Lord what should happen. Like I know best. Right? Wrong!

Of course, we have requests of Jesus in our prayers. He loves to hear from us. It’s open season with our pleas. But sometimes I get out of hand with great advice for the Almighty, telling Him what to do. Also how, when, and where. My bad, as people annoyingly say today.

So, I’m trying to let the Lord be my shepherd. Jesus is the good shepherd, in whose care we can relax. Trust Him wherever He’s leading. Go with His flow. Follow Him. Get out of His way. Confident in His timing. Keeping our eyes and ears attuned to Jesus. It’s much better this way. After all, it’s what He wants. What else matters, really?

Lord Jesus, thank you for being my Good Shepherd. Amen.