Like Sheep Without A Shepherd

 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market-places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed. Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Without A Shepherd

Snake oil has always been popular
purchasing every cure offered
never sitting down to breathe
scurrying around forever panicked.

Too busy to see our own folly
trying to be perfect, perfectly healthy
we are wondrously and lovingly made
yet we fail to seek the original source.

Sheep without a shepherd wander
they are panicked and spooked
jumpy and unwilling to rest
vulnerable to every hungry wolf.

We look down on sheep yet we follow
thinking we are making friends
with credit card shamans and wolves
who only want to devour and rob.

There is a pasture of quiet and plenty
right here where we already graze
a pasture of plenty and welcome
a home with enough room for all.