The lost sheep.

Not but three days into my time here in South Africa I got to hear from Archbisop Desmond Tutu twice in one day. I think I might have endured the 27 hours of airports, plane rides, plane food, and swollen ankles simply to hear him speak. My good friend, Anna, who is in the picture had told me he was coming to Durban to speak and got me tickets before I had arrived. The morning session was for pastors and so my name tag read, Rev. Audrey Warren- can you handle it! Then we went to a dinner in the evening. His visit was to release a book called, Pilgrimage of Hope. This book recounts the history of the Diakonia Council of Churches in the Durban area and their work in the struggle against Apartheid.
The Archbisop had many things to say about the church, the upcoming election here in South Africa, and the status of his country. As always he spoke boldly yet with humility on all subjects. He made us laugh and then made us want to cry. Yet, what touched me most that day was his incredible interpretation of scripture. At one of his humble moments he reminded us all that we were all, in fact, damaged people. We were all the lost sheep. Then he went on to remind us of what the lost sheep looks like. Contrary to many paintings in our church Sunday school rooms or prayer stations, the lost little lamb was neither clean nor innocent. Tutu explained to us in all his humor that the lost sheep ran through some stables to get himself/herself lost. She probably charged through some chains and got wrapped in wire a few times. Needless to say she probably even fallen in a few ponds and then proceded to roll in pile of dirt. Desmond explained to us that it was that mud-caked sheep that Jesus draped over his off white robe and carried home to clean and love. What a beautiful image to poner. I think I will always hear this story differently now. How I love South Africa.