Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me:
Your rod and Your staff comfort me. Psalm 23:4, TLV

Rod and Staff.  It’s interesting how commentaries differ on the symbolism of the “rod and staff.” From comparisons to Moses’s rod — a walking stick GOD uses mightily — to an iron rod of authority and discipline. The staff could be the iconic shepherd’s hook, used to pull rams by the horns when they are trapped in thickets or are off the path.

For me, as one of The Good Shepherd’s flock, I see the wisdom of each commentary.

As a parent, when my daughter was a baby and crawled toward a hot oven door — yes, back then oven doors were hot — I had to move her to safety quickly. For her it was a disruption of her goal. It may have felt like correction, but I knew better, because I was saving her from great discomfort.

Fight or Flight

Fear has a way of making us do things we wouldn’t normally do. Some have the  physiological reaction to fight or flight. It’s a response to stress, characterized by an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, elevation of glucose levels in the blood, and redistribution of blood from the digestive tract to the muscles. These changes are caused by activation of the sympathetic nervous system by epinephrine (adrenaline), which prepares the body to fight the cause/person of fear or flee from a perceived threat.

Another reaction is to freeze and not do anything.

I don’t know about you, but when I’m afraid, I want a Protector to guide me through the fear. Because I need a guide to instruct me whether I should fight or run. Or pick me up and carry me because I can’t move on my own.

Whether correction or comfort, I leave that up to Him, because He is my Shepherd and I want for nothing when I stay close to Him.