Here's the thing...shepherds love sheep. They love being with sheep. They watch over them, they look for them, they think about them, they care for them. They love sheep. They love talking to sheep. When one goes missing they feel it. When one chooses to wander off, they feel it. When a sheep is sick, they feel it. When one is lost, the shepherd frets. When one dies, they mourn. Shepherds have a unique relationship with their sheep.
Take the sheep away and the shepherd feels lost. Or put the sheep behind glass...
Pastors are shepherds. The term pastor means shepherd - one who works in the pasture caring for sheep. As with many in the church, pastors feel keenly not being able to meet together. The pastor feels lost. Most pastors are working very hard to connect with their sheep remotely and visit a few. But it is not the same as gathering your fold, having every one together. Looking at them all together.
There are other pastoral professions - social workers, teachers, lecturers, caring professions, all struggling with this sense of loss - the loss of not being able to see people, to be with people. To do what you were made to do...
These days will pass.
In the meantime, let's all make the most of what we can do - gather a few sheep. Visit the one. Check up on the sick, search for the lost one, encourage the struggling one...
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