Messiah with sheep and shepherd

Handel's Messiah: the ultimate story of life conquering death, presented in beautiful tones from choir, soloists, and orchestra.  The experience is truly uplifting.  It seems to make everything in life possible... for life to grow from ashes and joy out of sorrow.

One of my favorite choruses in Messiah is, All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, everyone to his own way.  Certainly it demonstrates our waywardness, which is not necessarily positive.  But, I like it because it's all-inclusive - "all we".  Hence, we're not alone in our frailty and folly.  Also, it's real and matter of fact, stating simply that we will at some point in life, stray.. turn to our own way.  It seems life would be easier if we weren't silly sheep that wander about, getting caught in rocks, attacked by wolves, lost and alone.  As a person who's generally self aware and relatively adept at navigating the world.. i find it particularly irritating to feel like an astray sheep so damned often.  However, it seems to be an intrinsic default within us to operate in defense, self protection, and self declared importance. 
Recently, I experienced again the hurt which may arise from these selfish and prideful defaults.  To carry on the analogy, it would be as though I wandered off from my duties as trusted gatekeeper and allowed a wolf to attack the herd of sheep. In the process, a few of us were injured.  And while the shepherd got rid of the wolf, creating safety and ensuring protection, the wounds sustained still exist.  Over time, they will surely heal.. but wounds of division and distrust can threaten to infect and cripple, creating permanent damage if not taken care of properly.

And at the end of the day, exhausted in mind, body and spirit, the only thoughts and feelings which arise formulate into gratitude - appreciation for the forgiveness from the shepherd and hope in the possibility of our fellow sheep to allow grace.  I feel humbled and unworthy of the grace, forgiveness, and understanding awarded to me throughout various struggles.  And I recognize they're only made possible by the shepherd.

Therefore, although we've gone astray.. been lost, abandoned the herd, explored... there's a way to be brought back into the fold, with hot food and a safe place to sleep waiting.  And so, Handel's Messiah climaxes with the Hallelujah Chorus, with praise and reverence given to the ultimate King.  And at the end, after hearing the story and experiencing the power, we cannot help but feel that life is possible and purposeful, if only to praise.