"I Shall not Want"

So, you know those things on Facebook that say things like if you remember having your phone attached to the wall, you must be old.  Well, that’s me.  I remember almost everything those things talk about.  The television with rabbit ears, party line telephones, playing outside til dark, (we lived in a rural area, no streetlights), and bus stops for the school buses.  All the neighborhood gathered at one stop and it was a social gathering of many ages. The kindergarteners up to eighth grade all rode the same bus.
My school bus stop had a variety of ages and kids.  One of the kids was a minister’s son. His name was Tim. We were friends and we were competitors.  We both tried to outdo the other in grades and just being smart.  We thought we knew it all.  We discussed politics, local issues, kid things and mind you I was only about 7 years old. He had the advantage over me when it came to biblical things. Being a minister’s son would do that. He would talk about things in the Bible and I would question him and make him explain those stories to me.
Our bus stop was at the edge of a lake with the mountain rising above.  I remember it so clearly.  The bright sky, the green mountain and the lake. I have always loved nature and I was blessed to be surrounded by amazing scenery.
Among the many discussions that Tim and I had (at age 6 or 7), he helped me learn the 23rd psalm.  I would start reciting and he would help me along if I got stuck.
So, imagine me at that age, and the first line is “ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
Wait a minute, stop right there.  I don’t want the Lord.?? I don’t want a shepherd?
Now, if you know me at all, you know I love animals.  All of them. I am happiest when I am with animals and I am blessed to have a connection with them.  So, I don’t want a shepherd…?? Animals in this world, sorta need someone to watch over them.  And so do I, just saying.We don’t live where animals run freely, we have farms and preserves and someone watches over them all. Yes, we need our shepherds.
Let’s go on to the next part of the psalm.
“He maketh me lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”
Okay, that part is good!  I would always love to spot any animals when we went on our family drives.  Of course, the best thing for me was spotting horses in a field. I could probably tell you every road that had pastures with horses.  So green pastures were good. I was surrounded by them and found them awesome and beautiful.
Still waters; well another good thing.  I lived at a lake most of my life.  Sitting and listening to the lapping of the water was and is such a peaceful and restorative thing to do.  And, when the lake got restless, with waves and color changing darker, you knew the weather was changing.  At a very early age, I learned to watch the lake for clues as to when I should head home to get out of the rain. Not that I was by the lake by myself at age 6 or 7, but I was the smarty who told Mom, it’s time to head home.
The thing about not wanting a shepherd still bewildered me.
So, the next part…”.He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
I understood restoring my soul, I understood being right and good for his name’s sake. My grandfather was on the Board of Education, my mom was his secretary and later the secretary to the Superintendent of Schools, and my dad was the head of the road department of our small township, so I had to be aware of our family name and live up to it.  Everyone knew everyone else and delighted in being able to gossip about what your family may be up to. Tough on a kid and her younger brother to keep up to what was expected of you because of your family name. But we knew that whatever we were up to, someone would tell our family.  My brother even would tell my mother when he was going to skip school because she would know by the absentee reports for the day.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; the rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Well, I could picture a beautiful valley, with sheep and other animals in the pasture, and a river running through it; all green and blue like my mountain view from the bus stop. I would be sitting by the stream and all would be well. And, all of sudden a dark shadow started to cover the valley.   It was the evil. And, then Jesus would step forward and sit next to me and the badness would subside and He was in the form of a shepherd and all would be good. Peace was restored.
Why would I not want this shepherd?
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies, thou anoinest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.”
All good stuff.  All safe stuff.  All protecting me from my enemies. I didn’t get the putting oil on my head but it was all good.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever”.
So, at age 6 or 7, I knew with all my heart that I would be safe with the Lord and when I died or when my parents or brother died we would all be in the house of the Lord.  As long as I was with the Lord, I had nothing to fear. The passage about preparing a place for you in my Father’s house always brings chills and tears of gladness to me. John 14:2.
So, again, why would I not want the Lord??
Thanks to Tim, this psalm became my mantra.  I would recite it daily and especially when I was frightened or feeling overwhelmed. And a young kid gets frightened a lot.  Sometimes you don’t want to share your fears or worries and I would just go in my head and recite my psalm. It would always bring peace to this heart.
There are so many in this world who don’t have the peace of knowing the Lord.  Of knowing of his love and of knowing that He is always there and He is willing to fight for you and protect you from evil. That you can turn to Him and He is always, always there.  That no matter the situation, He will listen and provide.  It’s not always the answer we want or expect and we don’t always get the answer immediately, but He hears and answers.
Over the years as I grew, I understood what the phrase “I shall not want” meant.  I understood that God will provide for my needs in ways I can’t imagine.  And He does for everyone!  Everyone who comes to Him and believes in Him.  He loves each and everyone of us.  He has open arms to comfort you.  He is our salvation and He waits for us.  If you need Him, all you have to do is ask. And many times He is there and answers before we even ask.
Recently, when Phil took a fall and was in the hospital in Westchester and I had to drive down there and sit while he was in the operating room, and to visit and I talked unceasingly to Jesus.  I talked to Him while driving, while waiting, in the evening, in the morning, during the day.  I think He finally tried to turn my channel down because I was constantly in His ear!  And, He was there!  Consistently!  What a blessing to know He was right alongside me every step of the way!
So, even though you may think that the Lord is the shepherd that you do not need or want, believe that He is the shepherd that is always looking after you, providing and protecting you and loving you. He is our God.
So yes, The Lord is my shepherd and I will have no wants.
Amen.

Lord, hear our prayers, spoken and those that hide in our hearts.  Grant us peace and be with us always.