Of lost lambs

Static kill is working, they say. As far as I know, this is a procedure to put cement into the well that has caused so much damage.

Weeeeee.

I read in 2 Samuel 12, "So the lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: "There were two men in a certain town. One was rich and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man's own plate and rank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. One day a rich guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man's lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest. David was furious. "As surely as the lord lives,' he vowed, 'any man who would do such a thing deserves to die. He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity. Then Nathan said to David, 'You are that man.'

What is the greatest fear we have? I suggest it is the unknown. It is the worry about what comes next.

In talking to a pastor in Dulac, a small community toward the gulf coast in Louisiana yesterday, I heard this: "We don't know what is going to happen. Our shrimp boats don't go deep water. They haven't really been affected by the oil yet. But no one knows where the oil is. Is it on the bottom? If so, when we send our boats out, they will drag the bottom and the oil will come up."

I wonder in hearing first-hand from those who have been affected, if simply payment from BP will fill the hearts of those people with calm.

Would the rich man giving another lamb of equal value have replaced the one stolen? I think not.

We have an obligation, it seems to me, to help those who have been affected by this disaster not just in terms of money. Sure, the money can be replaced. But the stress and the worry that came with no knowing what was next, with the possible change of their way of living, can't be replaced for quickly or easily.

Jesus clearly stressed to trust God rather than to worry. Much like loving my enemies, that is far, far easier to say than to do.