The Green Pasture
— Psalm 23:1-3
Read at your own pace
The Green Pasture
If you can, lie down. If not, sit with the eyes closed and imagine lying in a wide, soft place.
The Psalmist is not writing about a personality. He is writing about a posture. The posture of being led. Of not having to be the one in charge, just for now.
He makes me lie down. Notice — the shepherd does not ask. The sheep do not lie down on their own. They have to be led to a place where the body says: it is safe now. You can rest.
Where in your life is the shepherd trying to lead you to a green pasture, but you keep standing up? Where is the body being told: just lie down here, just for a moment?
Let yourself be led. Let the breath be the still water. Drink slowly.
He restores my soul. Restoration is not a productivity hack. It is the slow, kind work of being brought back to yourself.
Stay a few more minutes. The pasture is not going anywhere. Neither is the shepherd.
A prayer
Good Shepherd, lead me to the still water. I will not argue today. I will lie down. Amen.
Scripture
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul."
— Psalm 23:1-3
For reflection
Sometimes the most spiritual act is to lie down. To be led. To stop producing.
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