David Meets the Good Shepherd A man named David once went to see a Master to ask if he might teach. He came only upon a shepherd tending his flock. “I’d like to see your Master,” he asked the shepherd. Without raising his head, the shepherd replied, “For what purpose?” “I’d like to teach,” responded David. “I know what he’ll ask you,” said the shepherd. “He’ll ask: Have you given to others?” So today, I commit to donating money over the next year to the Western Health Foundation for aid in the areas of alcoholism, drug abuse, and healthcare. Then David went back to the shepherd and said, “I have made a commitment to others, may I see your Master now?” The shepherd replied, “He will ask if you have given of your time.” So today, I commit to working a minimum of two weeks throughout the year, along with any recovering persons who will volunteer with me, to clean the roadsides in the spring of 2020. Then David returned to the shepherd and said, “I have made a commitment of time, may I see the Master?” And the shepherd asked again, “For what purpose?” “I’d like to teach,” said David. The shepherd replied, “He will only ask if you’ve given of yourself.” So today I commit to writing a “Book of reflections” to be used in alcoholism treatment. And however humble that book may be, any benefits which may derive from it will go to help others. And David returned to the shepherd again saying, “I have made a commitment,” and again asked to see the Master. The shepherd replied, “He will only ask if you have asked others to give.” So today I ask each of you to support the efforts of RMCHCS … and I pledge that in the next year, I will personally ask others to make a contribution. So for the last time, David returned to the shepherd. Only this time David recognized that the Good Shepherd was the Master. David approached the Master, and humbly said, “Master, what must I do to become a teacher.” The shepherd’s eyes were full of love, his face full of kindness and he said, “David, what are you doing here? Come with Me! There is much work to be done.”
Merry Christmas!
- Palacios
54
December 2019
