Lisa
I worked all night on a post that was worthy of following Sarah’s grand slam weekend. But I failed because the only thing that seemed equally exciting was to announce that I’m pregnant. (Which I’m not. Sorry, parents.) Rebecca was even on the same page. Here’s the email she sent at midnight:
So glad you’re the one set with the task of following Sarah’s double whammy of incredible performances.
I swear if you announce you’re pregnant I will quit.
I told her that I was indeed pregnant and was going to announce it to the world. Even though it wasn’t true. Her response?
WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE ME?
Readers, you’ll never believed what happened this week: Levi died.
Honestly, on the days I want to quit The Apron Stage, I remind myself that I would miss out on the wonderfully witty emails I receive from my co-writers and the comments and the satisfaction of finishing a post. And I figure out a way to put together another one.
But today I’m waving my little white flag.
However, I have been asked to speak in church this weekend. (Since the LDS church does not have a paid clergy, sermons are given by congregants. The bishop assigns speakers and topics. It’s both exciting and terrifying—as you can imagine.) The topic is “feed my sheep” and I was asked to consider John 21:14-17 as I prepared. (Read it here.)
Since your comments are always so wonderfully insightful and since 400 minds are much, much better than one, please feel free to leave any thoughts/ experiences/ insights you have on the topic in the comment section.
I’ll post the written version of my talk on Sunday as a special Apron Stage weekend edition.
Thanks for being the kind of audience I could approach with this sort of thing. You are a fantastic group of readers.
35 comments
Comments feed for this article
October 20, 2009 at 10:32 am
nakiru
My Sunday School kids and I read that passage just the other day. We talked about it with respect to the forgiveness Jesus was extending to Peter after his denial of Christ. (Obviously, the context for the passage is slightly different in my scriptures, but the general gist is the same.) Peter has denied his Lord three times, and in return, the Lord requires of him three affirmations of love and gives him a serious command. Feed My sheep. If we love Jesus, we are not to focus on the stumbles that we leave behind us, we are to focus on our love for Him and what flows out of it. Feeding His sheep. Being unashamed of our beliefs, even if in the past we have stuttered, been silent, or even plain out denied.
This is the wisdom of my 1st and 2nd graders and me, anyway.
October 20, 2009 at 10:47 am
Sharon
I remember some devotional/earlymorningseminar/somethingorother at as an undergrad where the professor speaking (Joseph Parry) said, “I can think of no more moral act than to try to see from another’s point of view.”
My 20-year old mind was skeptical: NOTHING more moral than that? What about the Atonement or sacrifice or virtue? Well, I’m still not entirely sure what I think of it, but I’ve decided that at the very least all the thinking it has caused me has made it one of my favorite quotes.
I’m amazed at the effect someone can have on me when I feel that they’ve sincerely tried to see from my point of view. They don’t have to fix it or agree with it, or even really like it. But if they try to see from there and try to see from my heart, I feel safe and empowered.
And when I try to understand or imagine from someone else’s perspective (which can be tricky — I’m not endorsing judgment or projection here), when I remember that usually everyone is doing about the best he/she can and try to compassionately account for that, I’m happier, and everyone seems more beautiful.
I’m not exactly sure how that fits with “feed my sheep.” Sometimes the type of feeding required may be obvious, and sometimes we may feel to give people things they don’t even know they need. But I do think something about being willing to allow another’s worldview to slide in front of your eyes (in compassion, not in abandoning your belief system) nourishes us and them and is like fertilizer for the heart.
October 20, 2009 at 10:54 am
Rachel
You know, your talk topic placed in proximity to Sarah’s posts is really interesting (food and hunger and stuff). I find it fascinating that Christ preaches to us in such a tangible, mortal way so regularly. There are so many parts of the gospel that we learn or that are reinforced through our experience with the physical world. We all know what hunger feels like, so we can all relate to the commandment to “Feed my sheep.” Take away their spiritual hunger pains, He is saying.
Also. So much of my mothering has to do with gathering and feeding/nourishing (both corporal and spiritual). It is a sacred calling to “feed” others and I feel it keenly as a woman. And that could be interesting to explore.
I’ll be interested to read what you come up with. Good luck!
October 20, 2009 at 10:58 am
Elise
Love nakiru’s comment,- from the mouths of babes. My thoughts were that Christ only ask Peter to “feed his sheep” after Peter had eaten. His physical needs were cared for- he understood being “full”. Being in the presence of Christ would fill his spiritual needs, “full” again. Now he is asked to share what he has received. Am I “feeding his sheep” if I experience some moment of spiritual insight and do not share it with another? Or when I experience love and forgiveness but do not extend it to another. And how can I feed his sheep if I am not “full” myself. I must spend time seeking that nourishment in order to share it. The directive to “feed my sheep” suggests to me that I share what I have found on a daily basis, in every small and subtle way. Whether I do it or not is my challenge.
October 20, 2009 at 11:00 am
sarahlolson
Wow. I don’t have anything to say yet–I promise I will think (if for no other reason than to show my support for a special Sabbath edition–love that)–but both Nakiru and Sharon’s comments are off to a rocking start.
Nakiru’s comment reminds me of a comment (maybe KT’s from Remember Lot’s Wife post?) (just a conversation I’ve had sometime?) about how God is concerned with our present and our future. That’s it. Not so much with us and our past. Something like that?
Sharon, Joseph Parry’s quote–that’s beautiful. And stunning. And it reminds me, interestingly, of what one of my BYU professors (Larry Peer) said was the most intelligent thing a person could do: Be able to state someone else’s position (especially an opponent’s) in a way that person agrees is an accurate summary/paraphrase. Struck me right between the eyes like I was Goliath and Peer was David. And I wondered why it seemed so revolutionary–and why I didn’t ALWAYS take the time to do that, especially in conversations that are heated or hard.
Seems to be almost the same thing as Parry’s vote for most moral.
Most Moral. Most Intelligent. That’s a winner.
But I’ve lost track of how this applies to Feed my sheep. Oh yes! Your point about not feeding them what they don’t want. THAT is food for thought.
(It strikes me, Lis, that though this post is a request for us to do for you exactly what the Savior was asking Peter to do for others, of course of course, we will be feeding ourselves. Surely Jesus knew that when He issued the command: Feed my sheep–and by the way, Peter, bub, that will include you.)
October 20, 2009 at 11:16 am
Jason Merrell
Someone once told me that sheep are dumb as… well sheep! Or clueless as a cabbage as Louise might say. They’ll stand right in the road and stare straight into your windshield and bleet. “Baaah!” Which translates to “Duuuuuh.” Maybe they look straight past your windshield into some sort of sheep vapor. I think it’s related to the crunching sound from all that endless chewing. Anyhoo, the comparison of Jesus to his sheep is probably as apt as a comparison of God to humans. At one point I think we’ve been told we’re actually dumber than rocks. Dumber than rocks, people!
But he still loves us. In fact, he’s commanded us to take care of one another. I like that.
Baaaaah!
October 20, 2009 at 11:17 am
lisapiorczynski
Nakiru,
Your observation is the first connection I had jotted down in my notes at the beginning of the week. (Great minds…) I love the symmetry of it. The redemption. It’s beautiful.
Sharon,
I’m a little bit baffled by the quote. “No more mortal act.” Does that mean that it’s the most mortal thing we can do? And is that a good thing? Again, I’m a bit confused. But I completely agree that feeling that someone has really, truly considered something from your perspective is life-changing. I remember specifically a time that my mother articulated exactly what she thought I would be feeling after I made a difficult choice. I’ve never felt so understood before in my life. I think it’s the same way with “feeding His sheep.” Knowing what kind of food is needed, how it should be presented, etc.
Rachel,
Oh, I thought of that. It does seem to be our food week, doesn’t it? Yes, motherhood and feeding. The second I come home, my mother puts food on the table for me. It doesn’t matter if we’re between meal times or not. Something is always there.
Food is sacred to me. Some of the holiest moments of my life have taken place at the dinner table. I love that Christ’s ministry is bookended with feasts–the wedding, the last supper. I could read a whole book about the role of food in the Bible.
October 20, 2009 at 11:19 am
lisapiorczynski
Sharon,
I misread! Most MORAL, not mortal. What is wrong with my eyes???
October 20, 2009 at 11:27 am
Traci
This is primed to wander way off topic for me, but dosen’t feeding sheep sound fun? I would love to sit around on a grassy hill, spending my days feeding cute little lambs. Sounds restful…
It kind of reminded me of my favorite charge ever given “the errand of angels is given to women”. I want to be an angel. I want to be a being of pure benevolent service, preferably dressed in gauzy white, giving people what the need – which is almost always the same thing – pure, sweet love. I want to do that. Sign me up.
The problem is I spend alot of time ready to cry because I signed up to bring soup to Enrichment and I just burned it, or I forgot that cubscouts was today(!) and I have to phone in a lesson and everyone will know that I’m a fraud and truly the crappiest angel. I find that most of the time it feels niether gauzy nor restful.
I have to resign myself to not being the “how does she do it?” sheep feeder, more the “how do you solve a problem like a Traci?” sheep feeder. I find when I stop freaking out and let opportunities come I’m much better, but then again, I’m a spontaneous hugger, so to each their own.
October 20, 2009 at 11:35 am
lisapiorczynski
Elise,
Your comment reminded me of Rebecca’s post on love–how there isn’t a finite amount of it, how there is always more space for it when you receive someone in your life. Is it not the same with knowledge of the sacred? As soon as we know, we have room for more? Like eating. We eat, digest and soon thereafter have space again for another meal. With the members of the Godhead being the only ones who are “full” all the time, as you suggest. Perhaps? But, yes, I think it’s a true principle that teachers must have some level of mastery of their subject (i.e. be full) before they are able to share that knowledge with others.
saraholson,
Love the quote. It’s a great one. And, truth be known, I’ve always wanted us to do Sunday editions of The Apron Stage. So happy to have a good excuse to do it.
Jason,
I couldn’t read your comment without thinking of Animal Farm. “Four legs good, two legs baaaaad.” I also like that we are still lovable and still asked to take care of each other.
Traci,
Great, great comment. Don’t worry: you’ll end up doing something awesome like going over the mountains on foot or bringing the gift of song to 7 motherless children. Fallen angels (not the Lucifer kind, the Maria kind) are all the more endearing because of their imperfections. The most memorable meal that has ever been cooked in my home was “crepe balls.” Ask Rebecca about it.
October 20, 2009 at 11:48 am
Rachel A.
I like the notion that sometimes we’re sheep and sometimes we’re shepheards. Sometimes we need to be fed by someone else’s experiences and testimony and sometimes we have to do the feeding and share what we might have to offer.
October 20, 2009 at 12:25 pm
AnnaBeth
I was thinking this week of the principle Christ was teaching here…when my kids were watching the Jim Carrey version of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. (I love when the Lord teaches me when I’m just doing my thing at home) I think Cindy Lou Who was the ideal Visiting Teacher/Missionary. No matter how mean or rude the Grinch was to her, in her innocence she returned to him with love and invitation. She didn’t worry about what her family or community thought of the Grinch or inviting him along. Her understanding of this principle was higher than theirs. She loved. That’s all Christ wants us to do. Love. Serve. Love. Serve. Love. Serve.
October 20, 2009 at 12:29 pm
beckarecka
I don’t think it means anything grandiose to Feed Sheep. After all, they are messy, smelly, slobbery, and cliquish. Both species of animal. But, it makes a big difference when we can look in their eyes and can love them anyway.
I think this article best represents what I like most about feeding sheep.
Returning Home
Not just for those who are inactive in church attendance. But for everyone who is lost. As I searched for the article I wanted-and did not find-I felt a peaceful sense of comfort, refuge, and respite. I want others to feel this way. I want to feel this way more often. I think if I start to “Pray for the love that makes weaknesses and mistakes seem small.” I can overlook the slobber.
October 20, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Katy
I like to think about how and when I should feed those who are around me. A newborn can only digest mother’s milk or formula. Between four to six months, that baby is ready for cereal. As the baby adjusts to eating milk and cereal, it experiences monumental growth and development–rolling over, sitting up, cooing, etc…
During this four to six month period, you can not, and should not force feed that baby. Instead, you’re to watch for signs: the baby’s appetite is increasing, the baby’s ability to swallow solid food is improving, etc…
A mother once told me how she mixed cereal in a bottle for her 2 month old, in hopes of helping her baby sleep through the night. The baby puked. The baby pooped. The baby cried. The baby’s digestive wasn’t ready for the cereal.
My mom has been assigned to visit a less active lady in her ward. She’s faithfully visited this woman, every month, for 15 years. This woman smokes. This woman cusses. This woman wears booty shorts and has a son in prison. My mom talks with her, hugs her when she’s sad, brings her flowers on May Day and ceramic trinkets on her bday. My mom bought this woman’s old motorcycle when her husband lost his job, and visited her husband while his was in the hospital, sick for weeks. My mom prays with her, asks if it’s alright to put her name on the temple prayer roll, and invites her to come RS. She waits for her, watches over her, and loves this woman with all her heart.
October 20, 2009 at 1:47 pm
smylies
Hmpf. It appears i’ve already commented on this post.
October 20, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Shara
Sometimes the simplest commandments are the hardest to follow.
Feeding His sheep to me means taking care of those around us and treating others in Christ-like ways. I feel that all the commandments we are given are to guide us to one purpose, and that is to watch, care for, and treat others as the Savior would. Mosiah 18 is coming to my mind.
I’m not perfect at this, of course not. But it does hurt when I see, otherwise good and amazing, people treat others whose beliefs or standards may not match their own in terrible ways. That just hurts everyone involved. And hurt and fear turn into hate and anger. That’s not what the Savior wants for us.
If we love God, we should want to feed His sheep, and that means loving them as He does.
October 20, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Amanda
I’ve been wondering since Friday how ANYONE was going to follow those posts… and surprisingly, admitting that you just can’t follow something so great seems to work just fine. Score 1 for humility.
And isn’t that the point of “Feeding {His} Sheep” anyway? That when people do grand things, when everyone around us seems to be put together, incredibly inspiring and absolutely perfect that ALL we have to do is feed some sheep? Sometimes it’s so much easier to serve in ways that seem incredible, but as Naaman learned, the Lord often instructs us to do simple things, almost lowly things, ie feeding sheep.
But that’s what He asks of us. Are we willing to forgo the glamor of doing glamorous things to do what He asks?
Did that make any sense? No? I thought not.
October 20, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Sharon
saraholson: Love the Larry Peer version. That does seems like a really good measure of knowing something in a complete way, and I suppose it’s kind of the same side of a sister coin to see/feel with someone else in a moral way. I’m not sure I’m ready to say we shouldn’t give people things they don’t want–heaven knows some of my greatest blessings have been things I didn’t initially want (but that’s the point: heaven knows). But I often feel fed when someone thinks my perspective is valid enough to really try to understand it.
Katy and Shara: Loved your thoughts about loving those who aren’t necessarily like we are. And sometimes I think it’s extra special coming from someone farther out of your peer group. I cherish my friendships with wonderful women who are closer to my mom’s age than mine, and I took it as a great compliment when my 8th graders genuinely wanted my company or about something. We feed each other in those situations.
October 20, 2009 at 3:37 pm
lauren k
Rachel, I was also thinking about Sarah’s posts in relation to this … Also Nakiru, for some reason I never made the connection between the Lord asking Peter three times as a response to his denial! Thank you for the lesson!)
Anyway, with Sarah’s post, and Nakiru’s info it struck me that at this point Peter must be feeling quite empty. I would imagine it was a feeling akin to seeing your little brother or sister beat up on a playground and someone pointing out what you’ve already seen and asking “Hey, isn’t that your little brother/sister?” and you just walking away. You would feel embarrassed, and then defensive (“What if I’d been hurt too?”) and then miserable (“If only, if only…”).
Perhaps those three emotions were what needed to be addressed as the Savior asked Peter “Lovest thou me more than these?” (these perhaps meaning the world in addition to the literal these?) and Peter in embarrassment ducks his head in shame and answers “Of course I do.” Then in character of the Savior His response is the answer to how to fix what we lack (how to FILL us) “Feed my sheep.”
Then he repeats it, because Peter is human and apt to be caught up in self-pity, and so the second time around he answers on the defensive maybe “Yes, of COURSE I love you … and I’m really really sorry!” and maybe right after that he looks up and sees that the Savior is smiling, has already forgiven and it clicks … “If you love me feed my sheep.” Then the Savior asks once more out of His own love for Peter, and Peter gets the chance to answer how the question was meant to be answered, in the sorrow of a repentant and forgiven heart and sudden understanding: “Thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.” and Christ answered again with a smile, because He did know, but now even more importantly, Peter knew it too. “Feed my sheep.”
Maybe …
October 20, 2009 at 3:53 pm
No ONe You Know
I just wrote the most beautiful, thought inducing, shake your Spiritual cobwebs away kind of post. It was full of scriptural references and quotes from Dickens and Lewis. I cried while typing it and all my children cried as I read it back to them. And then I hit, “Submit Comment” and the screen went blank.
So sorry.
You are on your own.
Good luck making it better than what I just erased.
October 20, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Kelly
I like verse 18– among all the other verses, it’s the lone promise. My first reading was that as we get older that the Lord (and others) would take our butdens because we would be less able- which led to warm (and slightly self congratulatory) thoughts about the relationships I had with my grandmothers and all the old ladies I’ve taught in water aerobics class– and how valuable those friendshops have been- then i read it again and got to the second layer, which made my initial thoughts feel like a misreading. When we’re young we have a harder time turning things over to the Lord- being”led” so to speak. Being willing to surrender and be “led” is tough to learn- and in my case, is taking a long time to figure out- “old” in years, experience, or willingness- (Joseph Smith became “old” when he committed to the path he followed– at 14). I’m 35, and not even close. Rather than girding up ouselves to go where WE WANT to go- instead- we reach out our hands and are led where we may not choose to go. SO… as we get “older” we get MORE able, not less. The Lord is teaching me to be trusting, and patient with the process. And oh, what a pocess… ps- who is the “other” doing the leading? anyone who understands better than I how to be led…
October 20, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Evelyn
Are you familiar with the Michael McLean song, “Safe Harbors”? These are the lyrics:
There are refugees among us that are not from foreign shores.
And the battles they’ve been waging are from very private wars
And there are no correspondents documenting all their grief
But these refugees among us are yearning for relief
There are refugees among us they don’t carry flags or signs
They are standing right beside us in the market check out lines
And the war that they’ve been fighting it will not be televised
But the story of their need for love is written in their eyes
Chorus:
this is a call to arms to reach out and to hold the evacuees from the dark
this is a call to arms to lead anguished souls to safe harbors of the heart
Can you see through their disguises? Can you hear what words won’t tell?
Some are loosing faith in heaven cause their life’s a living hell.
Is there anyone to help those who have nowhere else to flee?
For the only arms protecting them belong to you and me
Chorus
Can you feel the pleas of the refugees for safe harbors of the heart?
Chorus
Can you feel the pleas of the refugees for safe harbors of the heart?
So… even though the song is about refugees and safe harbors, it often speaks to me when I think of seeking and feeding the Lord’s sheep. I don’t think we necessarily always have to do a “search and rescue” type effort, as there are often people around us who are starving for the words of Christ.
To be clear: I don’t think we always even have to search for those among our non-member associates–although we should always be mindful of those friends and peers. I have often noticed and found that there are those in our midst at church who are spiritually starving (or maybe they AREN’T there, and getting them there is part of the solution). They are coming, but their minds and hearts are distracted because of the things they are suffering with. I have seen it in former Relief Society presidents, Bishops, etc–no one is above falling into this position. Their burdens, children falling away, illnesses, financial troubles, etc., prevent them from feasting or even simply partaking and having that hunger satisfied. They are there in body, but their spirit is not being fed. It is our duty/blessing/opportunity to recognize them (stop and look at people in their eyes–they will say more than words ever could) and serve them, be visiting teachers or home teachers that visit with a message and a purpose and pray throughout the month for them, make sure they do not sit by themselves during Sunday School and/or Relief Society, etc. I have found that I am often most filled when I spend my hours at church not seeking to have the best spiritual experience I possibly can (which I very well may need) but when I look outside myself and try to help the sisters around me feel included. If we can help each person to truly feel the Spirit and feel the love of the Lord, we can help to “feed” them, and then teach them how to seek out good sources of “food” so that they can “feed” themselves.
Ok. I have written a novel. My apologies…
October 20, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Hilary
This might be slightly inappropriate, but this is what first comes to mind when I think of sheep and the gospel. Billy Collins poem entitled “Flock.”
Flock
(It has been calculated that each copy of the Gutenburg Bible
required the skins of 300 sheep.)
I can see them
squeezed into the holding pen
behind the stone building
where the printing press is housed.
All of them squirming around
to find a little room
and looking so much alike
it would be nearly impossible to count them.
And there is no telling which one of them
will carry the news
that the Lord is a Shepherd,
one of the few things
they already know.
Now, since that comment alone will not help you, something else that I thought about when reading those verses was the repetition of the phrase, “Feed my sheep.” I can’t find it at the moment, but I vaguely remember hearing a talk about repetition. I’ll try to hunt it down and let you know! Good luck!
October 20, 2009 at 6:07 pm
No ONe You Know
On a side note, did you know Kelly (comment under me), set me up with German shepard?
And did you know she and I used to buy each other bra and underwear sets for our birthdays?
Did you know she follwed me inot my father’s closet when “two dorky guys with name tags” kept coming to my house?
Did you know she couldn’t be there at my baptism and her mom set up a tape recorder so she should could hear it all later?
Did you know that for the rest of forever my posterity will hear about my conversion story and more than one time throughout the story of my life- at the most critical and excellant moments- her name will be spoken?
Did you know she has fed this little sarcastic, bad spelling, diet coke addicted sheep for 23 years. And counting?
And did you know she called me today and shared with me how happy she is that I turned her on the this little internet blog that makes her laugh and think? And then we went on to have a very meaningful conversation about the scriptures and FHE and life in general?
Feeding sheep seems to come in several forms.
October 20, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Jed
First I would like to say – big fan of Billy Collins. Big, big fan.
With regard to John 21: in this Ensign article Elder Nelson explains something that completely changed the way I look at this scripture: all three times the Lord uses different words (in the Greek) to tell Peter to “feed my sheep.”
The first time he uses the word “bosko” for feed, which means “to nourish or to pasture,” and “the diminutive term ‘arnion,’ meaning ‘little lamb.’” The second time he uses “poimaino” meaning “to shepherd, to tend, or to care” and the word “probaton” meaning “mature sheep.” The third time he uses bosko again and probaton again.
Elder Nelson concludes that the three verses have three different messages:
• Little lambs need to be nourished in order to grow;
• Sheep need to be tended;
• Sheep need to be nourished.
These commands from the Savior are in part fulfilled through the organization of Christ’s church that watches over individuals and meets their different needs in different stages of life (especially through the home teaching program).
My only other talk-related suggestion would be to read L. Tom Perry’s talk from Spring general conference about the ewe on the cliff (perhaps from the priesthood session?) and use it to work in a totally awesome pun (something like “Remember – next time, it could be EWE up there on the cliff!”). Just a suggestion.
October 20, 2009 at 7:42 pm
simplysarah
From the dissenter…of course I don’t expect you to use this, but I wanna comment too, so…*mischeivous grin*
Remember to feed the sheep all the stuff, and not just the stuff they want to hear. Cuz then they might start thinking it’s only about the “good” stuff.
Also, don’t get confused about the purpose of feeding the sheep. It’s not good because it will keep you busy and thinking about something besides yourself. It’s not good because it gives you purpose and value. It’s not even good just so you can demonstrate your love or devotion to god. It’s about the sheep. It’s not about you. And they are hungry.
At least, that’s what I think?
October 20, 2009 at 7:43 pm
lisapiorczynski
Oh, wonderful, wonderful readers. I am overwhelmed. This response has been even more than I hoped for. Thank you!
Rachel A.,
Yes, yes. Both roles. And isn’t it interesting how in feeding, we usually feed ourselves too? (i.e. We prepare a meal, share it with others and usually partake of that meal also.) I love that it underscores the “we learn when we teach” truth.
AnnaBeth,
I have a special love for Cindy Lou Who because my Aunt’s name is Cindy Lou. I always picture her as a little girl in that character. You’ve got me thinking about the importance of making it a true invitation. Welcoming people to come and share an important event with you. Being hospitable. I love that.
Amanda,
It’s HARD being Tuesday. Really, really hard. Sarah always delivers. Amen to doing the simple things that are asked. Look at the serpent. Feed the sheep. Really, that’s it? Can’t it be cooler like a quest in a video game? It’s a good reminder that we need to make religion our daily bread and not only our celebratory cakes. (Who said that? I read it somewhere and loved it. Great, great analogy.)
Sharon,
“But I often feel fed when someone thinks my perspective is valid enough to really try to understand it.” Beautiful. And true.
Lauren K,
This is such a beautiful moment of redemption for Peter. I love that. Definitely going to weave this into the talk.
NOYK,
Call me. Leave it in a voice mail if I don’t answer. I love your thoughts. I want to hear them.
Kelly,
You are a friend of NOYK??? I love her. Love love her. Thank you for introducing her to German Sheperd and the church. She brightens my life so very much. And your comments about growing old in our relationship with the Lord are spot on. It has nothing to do with age. It has everything to do with being teachable. Ready to learn, to let the concepts we learn change us.
Evelyn,
YES. This is about feeding everyone, regardless of membership status. Lifting up the hands that hang down. Lifting. I love your novel. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Hilary,
Love Billy Collins. Great poem. Focusing on the times Christ repeated something is a great thing to investigate. I’ll look into it. Thank you!
NOYK,
I think the greatest compliment we’ve gotten from readers has been hearing that we’ve made them think and have uplifted them. We want to be a good thing in your life. Thanks for the affirmation.
Jed,
Ha! The puns. So many possibilities there. Wonderful, wonderful link. Thank you; I hadn’t read that article before. Definitely using it. Horray, horray for online discussion forums!!!
October 20, 2009 at 7:47 pm
lisapiorczynski
simplysarah,
Thank you, a wonderful comment. You’re right: service shouldn’t be about anyone besides the sheep. (Side note: I was a terrible teacher when I made the lecture about me and saying what I wanted to say. The second I really stopped to focus on what would help my students in the long run, the classroom changed for the better.) Yes. Dead on. Miss Mischievous Dissenter, you certainly know your stuff.
October 21, 2009 at 12:05 am
Another Sarah
The purpose of the commandment is two-fold: to care for all the children of the earth, AND to bring joy to our lives.
Feeding others both spiritual food and/or table food brings joy.
Partaking of good spiritual food and/or table food brings joy.
Take the infant, for example, who wants nothing more than to nurse in his mother’s arms. He wholeheartedly and passionately eats, then slowly falls into a peaceful slumber. Never to be so content again!
Two people experience joy when the infant nurses, both mom and baby (though the mom won’t for the first three months…oh those hellish/torurous months!)
Anyway, good luck Lisa!
(And Elise–loved your comment. Reminds me to give away what I’ve been given. Lose my life so I can find it. All that good stuff.)
October 21, 2009 at 1:13 am
angie f
While I was on my mission, in the days before internet, my grandpa would send me the tapes of conference as soon as they came out. I would listen to those talks each morning while I prepared for the day. In April 1995 conference (may ensign) President Faust gave a talk about being a shepherd that nearly ripped my heart out. I can still remember with complete clarity exactly where I was (in the little unfinished kitchen of the house where rented a room in Brazil, making my oatmeal). He talks of a lamb that was his that he loved but that through his careless neglect was killed.
As dumb and dirty as sheep are, as we are, the Lord loves us. He wants us to feed His sheep, feed each other, because He loves us and He wants us to love each other with that love, in spite of our filth, in spite of our stupidity at whatever level we may be found.
Good luck Lisa, your talk will be sublime.
October 21, 2009 at 1:15 am
angie f
‘where WE rented a room’ sorry for the typo.
October 21, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Michaela
Ok, aplogies for being late. Crazy week of school. Which means I’ve been avoiding my homework, instead reading Little Women – which might give Rebecca some help for today’s post….
two things: LISA! food is absolutely sacred. A good book to read? The Hungry Soul: Eating and the Perfecting of our Nature by Leon Kass.
A good way to tie food in could come through a discussion of the sacrament as it could be – a feast. Sure, all we really get in church is one crumb and one sip, but if it were affordable and efficacious, I’m sure we’d get a whole chunk of bread and a whole glass…. Anyway, that parallel between the spiritual and physical nourishment Christ gives us is a great way to fashion our own lives. And why the sacrament is so terrific when we are fasting. And one lovely insight into why food is so important. Food seems temporal, material, and shortlived, but in the end, we internalize it to the point of making it a part of our very being…
SARAHOLSEN! You’ve had a class from Larry Peer. Did he discuss chiasm with you???? It’s his pet peeve for at least the past 4 years, so I’m hoping so… Anyway, I can’t hear the word anymore (and more and more, each professor I have uses it – French poetry, Dante, this or that scripture, etc) without laughing and then becoming very very concerned and confused for my general literary well-being. If he did discuss it with you, maybe a post on it? If not, well, forgive my outburst. But I’m glad you enjoyed that David/Goliath moment, and hope the class was fun!
October 21, 2009 at 7:13 pm
simplysarah
Another Sarah – I like your analogy! Beautiful point.
Okay it can’t be so one-sided (just about the sheep – I try to be a purist, but turns out things aren’t so simple). Of course both sides need to be balanced…I won’t even extend the metaphor to make that point.
October 21, 2009 at 10:43 pm
sar
Sorry this is late, but I’ll paypal you ten bucks if you mention Bertolt Brecht’s “Grub first, then the morals.”
October 22, 2009 at 10:49 am
ao
You don’t need more help. In fact I remember the talk I heard you give in Sacrament Meeting being rather fantastic. (It gave you away as a critical thinker; when you coupled that with the ballet sweater you wore, I was 100% on board the Lisa Ship of Greatness.)
Nonetheless.
I think it’s interesting that Christ uses the words “lambs” and “sheep” within the same conversation. I’ve been thinking about that specific this week and realized it as the call He’s truly issuing. Be specific. Know who’s a sheep; know who’s a lamb; know who’s one that wants to be the other; know who’s lonely; know who likes birthday chocolates; know who’s scared; know who cares about poetry; know who enjoys reading the newspaper; know who wants to be hugged. I am overwhelmed by Christ’s belief in me, that I can find somebody and be in it for the long haul: meet her at her level, feed her what she needs, all the while convincing her that the real sustenance is in His pasture, within the fence posts He has placed.
Those who have truly fed me have done this and it has made all the difference.