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Reflection: A Shepherd’s Staff

Shepherds use a variety of equipment and aids while tending their flocks. Items commonly or occasionally used include a rod, staff (also referred to as a scepter), sling (like the one used by David to slay Goliath), bag or pouch, garments, a tent, dogs, and a watchtower.

In the Bible and throughout literature, the staff appears as a source of comfort, concern and compassion, often symbolizing the Spirit of God. In Moses’ hand, it was a sign of God’s miracles and deliverance. Of course, the staff was mainly of practical use by shepherds to draw sheep together, guide them, rescue them and set them free from entanglement.

A staff holds special significance for me. In our company, I try to move through the facilities on twice daily “walkabouts,” a way to keep a finger on the pulse of the workplace and show concern for our people. Far from rote, it has become a special time to connect with others each day, and I cherish the moments.

One day, in the midst of a room filled with a few dozen workers, I noticed an employee whose demeanor seemed downcast. I found out that she had contemplated suicide over the previous weekend and began acting in an unusual fashion. After careful consideration, the human resources manager and I conducted an intervention and took her to an emergency room. Our intent was to leave her in the care of medical professionals.

It was not to be. With a crowd in the ER and a waiting time sure to stretch for several hours, we sat alongside her, not wanting to leave her alone. The time together gave us a chance for a dialogue. As we talked, the floodgates opened. We heard one story after another of physical and verbal abuse she had experienced, which combined to shatter any sense of worth and to instill a sense of utter desperation in her. We listened and, with compassion, shared the unconditional nature of God’s love for each of us.

After returning home from the hospital that night, she grew convinced that God loved her and would not forsake her, because, even though she was hiding her face, we had seen her in a crowded setting. The next day, she was back at work with a smile on her face, ready to begin the long road to recovery. She shared how her burden was lifting and thanked and hugged us for caring enough about her to reach out.

A few days later, my wife and I were on a trip on our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. We happened upon an antique shop. I entered and quickly moved to the back of the store, but my wife lingered near the entrance. Inside the front door, she spotted a shepherd’s staff, the first either of us had ever seen. She knew it was for me, representing a tangible confirmation of my role as a shepherd in the workplace. With God’s hand in all things, we returned home with the staff in hand.

The next morning during my daily devotion, I opened my journal to record our experience. As I glanced down, I noticed the last Scripture verse I noted before leaving on our trip: “Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance” (Mic. 7:14).

The shepherd’s staff now hangs in my office. It serves as a daily reminder to be a leader like Jesus, whose righteousness is the scepter of his kingdom (Ps. 45:6; Heb. 1:8).