The 23rd Psalm is a classic in Christian literature. People refer to it more often than any other passage, prayer or petition in times of death, grief and personal crises. It is the quintessential Judeo-Christian statement of faith that stirs something deep within every one of us. As human beings, we are are all connected by the harsh reality of death, where all the trappings of affluence, status, education and power are stripped away and we stand naked before the God of the Universe and feel as vulnerable as the little lamb pictured above.  In moments like these, it is the 23rd Psalm that seems to speak with a voice that awakens hope and renews our strength.  It says what we long to say, it affirms what we long to know, and it boasts of strength we long to feel, but often don't. In only 6 short verses it breaks through the fog of doubt and despair and reveals a world where light, courage and gratitude are the norm.  This is the world David pursued his whole life. We all need to have a vision like this, a story we feel apart of and a compass for those time when the stars won't shine and you're not sure they every will again.           The 23rd Psalm, however, is much more than just a band-aid for the wounded to get back on their feet or an incantation to recite over a loved one at a funeral as if it absolves us of any serious reflection about our mortality. The 23rd Psalm is actually King David's life statement, a poem of wisdom based on a lifetime of real experiences. It encompasses the reflections of a ruddy boy who faced Goliath, who found about his real convictions while on the run when he was tempted to kill his rival, who discovered the seductive nature of power as the anointed King of Israel and then brokenness when his affair and murder were revealed. It is the story of his life. David reflected on the highs and lows of his life and discovered a relationship with God that draws us back to this passage time and time again. They are powerful words that demand more than just mere memorization or to be relegated to funeral liturgies, they demand respect, meditation and surrender.       I think everyone should have a life map, a metaphor of how they see themselves, the purpose of life and their place in it. It becomes a boundary if you will when tempted to give up or drift off course.  The problem that I have with most of the regular Mission Statements you find on-line is they encourage narcissism. They encourage well meaning people to buy into the "what's in it for me" world view. They consist of a two stage process (1) What do you want and (2) how do you want to get it. They seem to solidify our obsession for money, power, prestige, possession and popularity, but they don't get to the core of these desires and answer the bigger "WHY" questions in life. Why do you want these things? Why are they valued over simplicity, generosity or serving?  Why are you driven to choose one path over another? Why does your life story matter?     David's psalm is value statement, simple and visually profound. It is a statement about who he is in his relationship to God and the circumstance of life. David doesn't talk about the money he makes, the power he wields, or the battles he's already won.  It is simple, spiritual and sublime that even as king, David is a mere lamb before God. When was the last time you heard a king, a president or a celebrity embrace their identity as a lamb? Everything else in Psalm 23 is a reflection on his life story based on this metaphor.  David's grief, loneliness, inspiration and vision are all contained in six short verses.   What would different about your life if you created a Life Story? A narrative that describes your experiences, good and bad, and where your heading.  (here's a few questions to prompt your thinking) Life is like....                                        God is like.... I am like....                                           The greatest thing I have learned about problems is... An Audience of One -  Who are your trying to please, and why? Out of the Shadows - in times of personal crisis, where do you turn for emotional and spiritual strength? Why? Create a Visual Image - When you arrive wherever you're heading, what will it look like? For David it was a quiet pasture that reminded him of serenity, abundance and protection. What will it look like for you?  Sermon Slides: Worship 07.07.13 The Shepherd sermon Sermon Notes: Sermon Notes 07.07.13 The Shepherd Sermon Audio: The Good Sheperd 7.7.13 L The Good Shepherd 7.7.13 E