A blissful month of Easter awaits. In the enlarged vision of our destiny this season affords us, we’re invited to “think bigger.” Good Shepherd Sunday guides us to reflect on genuine leadership—and to pray for vocations (7). Feast of the Ascension (25 or 28) literally takes our gaze higher.

As a preacher and perhaps a pastor, you know a little something about shepherding. Examine that role.

Sometimes it feels like a huge sign ought to be posted in every window around the world: “LEADERS WANTED.” Such a sign might hang in businesses and city halls, in schools and in churches—everywhere leadership is needed and its absence keenly felt. But leadership alone can lead to dangers worse than mere chaos.

“Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he’s up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate.

He’s gone now. But 50 years ago you could always find him on the corner of State and Madison in Chicago, which back then was called the "world’s busiest corner.” He dressed in what appeared to be a train conductor’s uniform—bib overalls, a bandanna around his neck, and the conductor’s cap.

The Lord is our shepherd. We turn to him for forgiveness.

Suddenly I heard the words of Christ and understood them, and life and death ceased to seem to be evil, and instead of despair I experienced happiness and the joy of life undisturbed by death.