Who is feeding the sheep?

Apart from the very cool look on the sheep's face I love this photo from Muddy Church at St Andrew's, Rugby (https://www.facebook.com/StAndrewsChurchRugby/). In the bible there is an account of Jesus talking to his disciple Simon Peter (read about it in John 21) and asking him if he loves him. After Peter's response Jesus tells him to feed him lambs, or his sheep. The theological depth within this is beautiful, but the simple message we can see is that Jesus was basing involvement on relationship not any other criteria. He didn't give Peter a pop-quiz on his knowledge at this point, a character assessment, a skills audit He wanted to know "Do you love me?"

This picture shows these sheep aren't worried if it's the adult, the farmer, the trained shepherd or the small child, they see the food and trust the feeder. The little hand can fit through the fence and give the food direct to the sheep rather than just tipping it over and into the trough. We all have our skills and abilities, not that others can't do something but that sometimes we can do it that bit better, engage deeper, be more appropriate because of who we are, our story, our journey.

This photo shows an adult helping a child by passing them the tools (the food) and a child able to get their own food for the sheep and passing it on but most of all sheep- happy to be right there and getting to eat.

Jesus wasn't talking about his actual sheep that He'd left but about people and sometimes we can put off doing things because of what we aren't or haven't got - a qualification, academic knowledge, status or age. I believe God's Kingdom is a place where all are able to make a difference, there are things we can do differently at different ages and stages but let's take the opportunities this week to see others and release them in their skills whilst also looking for where God is using our story.

Muddy Church is a place that encourages each community to engage with it's local area and people. For some that might be a park, a plant-bed or a mud slide. Each community is different and has spaces where people can connect with creation and explore God within our world. Get in touch for more information about what Muddy Church might look like for you.