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Being the 'Good Shepherds' of God's Creation |
Recently we had the sad news that some young people in
Wells-next-to- Sea had been arrested after stealing and
killing a sheep in a most horrendous fashion. I fail to
understand what is in the minds of those who undertake such
barbarity. We have had a succession of news stories about
cruelty to animals and in a farming county where we have
traditionally been so reliant on farm animals this abuse is
even more appalling.
But news is not all bad. Having visited ‘Drifters’ in
Fakenham, the local fish and chip shop, I was encouraged
that the shop is stopping using plastic bags which are
totally unnecessary in order to help the environment. The
sight on TV this week of dead birds caught in plastic bags
and fish dying through pollution should give us cause for
concern.
The news that the Duke Edinburgh is to visit Pensthorpe
Nature Reserve and to be a trustee is a good news for the
area and especially for the Pensthorpe. Also the news that
BBC Spring Watch will be broadcast from Pensthorpe is
equally good news. As a Church we have always had a close
relationship with Pensthorpe, and supported the important
conservation work undertaken. Members of our Church
undertake voluntary work there in the garden, and many
people have a season tickets just to walk around and enjoy
the peace and tranquilly.
In St John’s Gospel Jesus announces that one of his titles
is ‘The Good shepherd’. He is going to lay down his life for
the sheep and unlike the other shepherds he will guard those
under his care.
I believe that there should be a balance in nature and so
although I love gardening I allow my garden to grow
naturally without recourse to insecticides. The owl that
comes at 5am in the morning, to our garden or the hedgehog
which roams around at night and sunbaths during the day
knowing that the garden is safe from dogs, or the bats that
fly at dusk or the thousands of starlings that roost the St
Peter garden lime trees, are just as important to me as the
people who walk by our house. We have taken for granted the
glory of nature and now we are just beginning come to our
senses and preserve what God has given to us.
We are now the ‘Good Shepherds’ of God’s creation.
Adrian Bell.
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