This is my story: Life to the full
‘This is my story’ is an occasional series of short devotions, based around the Bible, the experiences of Open Table members, reflection and prayer.
This month, OTN trustee Carol Joyner reflects on her experience of finding consolation in the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
Reading
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Reflection
A rainbow sheep is pulling the hand of a reluctant and doubtful Jesus and saying, ‘Come! I found a church that will welcome us both!’
Cartoon by David Hayward aka nakedpastor
During a particularly rocky period in my life, I drove to see a spiritual director around fifty miles from my home in Hampshire. At one point, I was crying so heavily that I had to pull over into a layby as I couldn’t see to drive. When my tears subsided, I looked up and saw I had parked near the Shepherd and Flock Roundabout.
The sign grabbed my attention: my surname was also Shepherd at that time! But the name also reminded me of the passage from John’s Gospel on the sheep and the shepherd. In it, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who steers and protects his flock. Christians are his sheep. When we are in relationship with the shepherd, we will recognise his voice, like sheep would.
In that moment, I remembered that Jesus truly had my back. Life is not always easy: sometimes we will find ourselves caught up in a storm, or under attack from predators, or stranded on a clifftop. But in the Good Shepherd passage lies the promise of John chapter 10 verse 10: this life will be full; this life will be rich.
‘JTenTen’, as I call it, is a favourite scripture of mine. It promises not only quantity of life, but also a quality of life. The fulsomeness on offer is not material; it’s about quality of existence not quantitative wealth.
‘Life to the full’ is this invisible but firm hand of Jesus on my shoulder that represents quality of life. It is also about the quality of relationships I enjoy with other truth-seekers. It is the freedom to pursue all that my soul is drawn to, in the absence of material goals I must fulfil.
“In my family, I was sometimes treated as the lamb to the slaughter. With Jesus, I am a rainbow lamb of God.”
Quantity of life awaits through eternal life with the Saviour, but at the moment, I’m too busy enjoying the qualitative aspect: the richness of life with Jesus as my Shepherd. In my family, I was sometimes treated as the lamb to the slaughter. With Jesus, I am a rainbow lamb of God.
Reflect for a moment:
How much do you feel the hand of Jesus on your shoulder?
How often do you feel you are caught up in pursuing worldly milestones?
What would living life to the full mean for you?
Prayer
Jesus,
help me to trust
that you are the way, the truth and life
and that truth and quality of life
are found in following you.
Help me to let go
of the empty promises of the world
and its financial and social milestones
and to entrust my life course
and my soul
to you.
Amen.
Author
Dr Carol Joyner is a lay preacher, writer and academic tutor based in East Lothian. She is a member of Augustine United Church in Edinburgh. You can read more about Carol’s journey in her autobiography, 119: My Life as a Bisexual Christian, written under the pseudonym of Jamie Sommers.
