a little nip

Friday May 20^th, John 10: 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."  There were two ways to get the cows when I was working on the farm.  At home, most of the time we could call them; one cow would pick up her ears and start to wander, although not too fast, toward home.  When I started milking the cows on Moffit’s farm in Alaska in the 70’s, I would go out to get them at 2am and my dog would have to chase them from behind.  In time a few barks and some calling would get them moving toward the barn.  Christ is always out ahead of us, calling, trying to move us forward toward home.  For most of us it might take a few nips at the heels and some barking to get us moving.  Even the nipping is grace, but like the cows, we don’t always see it as such.