it never fails

I am on the lector rotation at church, which means that approximately every five weeks, I am responsible for reading one or two of the biblical lessons for the service.

Even though the assignment is random, it is uncanny how many times the passage I am assigned contains a sheep reference. Doesn't matter if it is Old or New Testament: I have found myself reading about the poor man and his ewe lamb, sheep that know their shepherd's voice, the proper lamb to be selected for slaughter, you name it, I have read that passage. (I know the chances are greater than, say, an alpaca reference, but the entire book isn't about sheep.)

I have to fight to keep a straight face while my family, and the others in the know about my particular affliction, quietly chuckle away to themselves. Eye contact in this circumstance must be avoided at all costs.

Today I got a break. No sheep references. Just the passage from Song of Solomon that was read at our wedding, which contains... the name of our farm. Of course.

My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away." Song of Solomon 2:10-13