at an unexpected pass
Where the winds of change
blew colder,
Warping snow that cut like glass
But like an old man in regret
for foolish sins
and wasted youth.
The scene that lay before me
had no beauty save its truth.
For the wind came down the mountains,
never slow and never still,
and the sheep were scattered shepherdless
alone across the hills.
They were prey to every
beast that roamed
and entrapped by every curse.
And they stumbled in their sickness,
in their weakness,
and their thirst.
Below them in the valley,
the polluted waters flowed,
Where the shepherds
that were harling sat,
and ar gued what was owed.
And the ambitious and
abusive bragged,
and they boasted on their might,
And their profits from the slaughter
of the ones who could not fight.
And the wind just kept on howling
as I cried,
O Lord, how long will your people be the victims of the ruthless,
proud, and strong?
And at once there came an answer
in the quiet of my soul.
The time has come for judgment,
and to make the wounded whole.
For my heart is still a shepherd's heart,
I know each one by name.
The ragged and the beautiful,
the healthy and the lame.
And I myself will lead them out,
I'll feed them on the best.
In pastures, by still waters,
in a place of peace and rest.
Oh, but woe unto the shepherds
who abuse my sheep and kill.
With harshness and severity
you've bent them to your will.
And today I am against you
as I take them from your hand.
When the fire of judgment comes,
the stubble will not stand!
And darkness filled the valley,
and I saw it take up form,
Screaming winds and
fire and lightning,
more than any earthly storm.
Where it passed were no survivors,
for the land was cleansed and bare.
But the streams flowed clear and purified,
and the grass grew green and
fair.
I saw a man come walking,
and his heart glowed like a flame.
All the sheep began to run to him,
they called each one by name.
He spoke to them in gentle words
and soothed their fearful minds
And he healed the brokenhearted
and the crippled, sick and blind
And many others like him,
all with hearts that glowed the same
And before I had noticed,
from the farms and fields they came
They weren't famous, wise, or noble,
but they spoke a common word,
A word the flock could recognize
and follow when they heard.
They led them in dream pastures
by still waters in the light,
Standing guard against the wolves
and other creatures of the night.
Going out into the mountains
in the darkness and the cold
Bringing back the lost and wounded
to the safety of the fold
And the news went out around the world
in every street and town
That something wonderful was here,
that heaven had come down
And millions gave their hearts in trust,
but long had been betrayed.
And the bride at last was ready,
and the trumpet call was made.
And the news went out
around the world,
in every street and town,
that something wonderful was here,
that heaven had come down.
And millions gave their hearts in trust
That long had been betrayed
And the bride at last was ready
An d the trumpet call was made
You