"Wanderling"

That yearling liked to wander,

And every chance he got,

He pushed through wire, a strange desire,

And sure got out a lot.

And I’d saddle up and get him,

Every time someone would call,

You got one out, I had no doubt,

That he would be there, y’all.

Sometimes he’d hear me comin’,

And he would trot on back,

Sometimes nope, I had to rope,

And not give any slack.

He was just a wanderling,

No matter where he was,

He’d want to be elsewhere you see,

Without reason or real cause.

And sometimes with our wandering,

There’s no good reason, see,

God puts us where we don’t stay there,

Go someplace else to be.

But we will find the hard way,

That Jesus Christ can heal,

A wayward soul, He’ll make us whole,

With grace so strong and real.

And then we’re glad at home to stay,

Because we are at peace,

No need to stray, we’re glad to say,

From all that’s wrong released.

“For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:25)

Neither sheep or cattle need a reason to wander. It’s just in their nature to roam from one bite of grass to the next. Sometimes the behavior of human beings is even more irrational, and increasingly so the farther they get from the Lord and what’s right. God seeks us and does all He can to bring us back to safety and healing. Sometimes the healthy, purposeful life is so foreign we can hardly imaging ourselves experiencing it. But God loves to surprise us and shows us where real satisfaction and peace reside, and that’s at home with Him.

Lord, help us to return to You, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Tyler Crow, used by permission. Thanks, Tyler, and God bless you.