YOU ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL

The last thing anybody wants is an oily head. In fact, whenever I'm at the altar I shy away from having oil smeared all over my forehead. That greasy feeling is just not appealing! Unless you are a sheep! Which we are! In Psalm 23:5 we read "...You honor me by anointing my head with oil; my cup overflows with blessings." For humans the notion of having your head drenched in oil might sound gross and unpleasant BUT for sheep an oily head is a salve, it is comfort, it is relief.

In warmer weather shepherds will typically lead their flock from the home ranch, where their every need is carefully met, out to green pastures, along quiet waters and up to the high "table" lands of summer (see my last blog). In these places one would expect that there would be no issues, no problems...sounds peaceful and serene, right? We all know that warm weather brings with it the presence of tiny, little nuisances called bugs. I detest their presence and prefer cooler weather for that reason alone. Well, sheep feel the same way in warm weather. They are extremely troubled by flying insects that torture and drive them to distraction. The nasal fly, especially, buzzes around the sheep's head attempting to deposit its eggs on the damp mucous membranes of the nose. If successful, the eggs hatch in a few days, work their way up the nasal passage into the head and burrow their way into the flesh...causing intense irritation and severe inflammation. This will cause sheep to beat their heads against any hard surface or even kill itself to get relief.

The only thing that can (and will) prevent such aggravation and irritation to the sheep is when its caregiver applies an oily remedy which is smeared over its nose and head as protection. Continuous application has to be made to prevent the flies from tormenting the poor sheep. What an accurate picture of what the Good Shepherd does for us. When the small, petty annoyances of life threaten to ruin our flow, our rest, our plans or just plain "bug" us we can be assured that God will counter them with His presence. When He anoints our minds, our thoughts, our way of thinking it sets us free from the things that easily irk us! It soothes us and allows us to stop beating our heads to try and "figure" things out!

Because of his love and care for us, our cup will overflow with blessings! It is indeed a tremendous blessing to be free of the things that bother us day in and day out and that assurance "flows" to everyone around us. To not care because we know the Shepherd is nearby provides blessed reassurance and to be able to relax and rest as we journey through this life because we have such an attentive Father is absolutely priceless. Knowledge of that, alone, not only prevents frustration but if we do become frustrated, He is absolutely able to handle whatever the issue is. In that regard, I will take an oily head any day!

~Dania Roberts