July 21, 2014

It is our people who make Good Shepherd truly special.

Three different employees approached me at different times last week, each proposing to help with an important project or to attend to the needs of a client or family by cutting a vacation short or coming in on a day off.  One even made the case for attending a meeting here at Good Shepherd while recovering from surgery.  I declined in all three instances, while expressing gratitude for the respective employees’ passionate dedication to our mission.  Whereas there are passionate, dedicated people in all lines of work, I’ve observed it to be more the rule than the exception here at Good Shepherd.  Despite the obstacles, the long hours, the traumatic things to which our employees give witness in shepherding our clients through what is often simply the latest tragedy or heartache they’ve experienced, our staffers persevere.  Even when their efforts go unappreciated, or even worse, are met with threats, criticism, or attacks, they keep helping—they keep caring.  I think it says something special about our people, but even more about the nature of the work we do.  Sometimes in trying to love like Jesus would have us love, we face seemingly overwhelming obstacles.  Like many of our employees, we see things we’d prefer not to see and experience pains we dearly wish we could avoid.  At the same time, however, we know that our willing sacrifice for the sake of this mission is not in vain.  We have Jesus in our corner.

I did not refuse, did not turn away. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who tore out my beard. My face I did not hide

from insults and spitting. The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced…(Isaiah 50: 5-7)

Peace,

Michael