Change, whether good or bad, can bring about feelings of fear, loss, discouragement and anxiety. Pastoral care involves practical ways of ministering to the needs of people particularly in times of transition or crisis. It is the expression of God’s love as experienced in the reality in relationships.
When I think about pastoral care, the image of the shepherd is what comes to mind. Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd. He protects, encourages, restores, guides and comforts. Each of us is called to be a shepherd; but, in order to do this effectively, we must be thoughtfully available. Thoughtful availability is a broader way of thinking about hospitality. It requires focus and attentiveness. It means actively listening and watching so that we pick up on the subtle cues that reveal what is happening in others’ lives.
My constant prayer is that I would have the discipline to be thoughtfully available on a consistent basis.
• What does it mean to you to say that “The LORD is my shepherd”?
• Why does our culture seem to struggle with being thoughtfully available? What can we do to overcome this tendency?
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Dear Lisa
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your thoughts on this subject. The picture you chose with the Shepherd and the lamb was perfect for me this week. I have been meditating on Ps. 23 and the need for a shepherd and feeling like a lamb has been very real. I wish our culture, Christians, the body of Christ, myself included would take the time to be thoughtfully available. I wonder if we can answer your question and then take the time and effort to implement a solution.
Thanks for the picture and the thoughts.
Evette Hicks