Here, I'm trying to get some housework done and get over to Dad's to do what needs to be done there and I keep getting this mind-picture, [for a lack of a better descriptive word] of Walls around a city and these walls are massive.
I've been trying not to get back on the computer but it won't leave me.
Instead of a "city" being surrounded by these 4 very long walls, it's "Something Sacred".
The impression that it is giving me is that, there aren't just a few "watchmen" on the walls - but the Whole Body of Christ standing watch on these 4 walls.
Some are watching the east - some the west -some north and the rest south and even all of those on the same wall, watching in their designation direction, are viewing only a portion of that direction.
In other words - each having a necessary piece of the puzzle - none seeing/knowing it all, but everyone assigned to report.
It's their assignment to watch in that direction. None feel any more important than the next person and all have the same Manual in their hand. Occasionally, one will call-out to those relaxing or looking in a different direction - "Look" or "Watch" or "Listen" to each other or "Enter" to those outside of the Walls.
In the center of this Sacred Place - in the center of what would normally be a city - is something like a look-out station - but within it - a Voice can be heard, like a Command Center - giving directions, corrections or affirmations - but the watchmen on the walls need to quiet themselves to hear this Voice.
The watchmen are free to sit down if they want and pull something else out of their pockets to read instead of their Manual - if they so choose, or to talk amongst themselves about anything they want to talk about. But some have chosen to keep a steady watch and keep their ears clear, so that they can hear the Voice that's coming from the tower that's raised up in the center of this Sacred Place that they're a part of and to hear others on the wall yelling out those words above.
It's up to these watchmen to decide how much of their time that they'll devote to watching, listening and reporting back what they see, according to the Manual and what they feel lines up with that Directing Voice at the Center of all that these walls surround and how they can best fulfill their own personal position on these walls. Some may decide to be the water-carriers for the others that must remain on their wall. Others will double duty if one of the others needs to rest for any reason.
The whole of the Body of Christ is on these walls and free to do as they choose and each knows that one day these walls won't exist anymore and they'll be before The One Who's Voice was in that Command Center and judged by what they've done during their time on their assigned wall.
Did they care about each other, even those they couldn't see from their own spot on their assigned wall. Did they care about those outside the walls. Or did they feel that their position on the wall was more important than those others on all of the four walls? Did they see that each one was just as important as the others?
That though the many had differing fields of vision -- that the many were supposed to be as One?
LORD, heal our minds and ears and hearts and vision - by Your Love - Our Caring and Good Shepherd. Amen.