actually it's not really a chainmail but I did find this in my inbox:
"Thanks to all for today’s fellowship. I always come away from our group feeling the better for it.
I looked up the biblical quotation I was trying to remember and it is from Matthew 10 v 16: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
I also found this great illustration of what it can mean in modern life in commentary on the film Captain Phillips, which I saw recently with Tim. It is based on a true story about an American ship which was attacked by Somali pirates:
‘Captain Phillips is based on the true story of the Maersk Alabama, its crew and most importantly its captain. And Phillips is, in many ways, just the sort of man you'd hope a captain to be.
Initially, some of his crew think their cap'n is a little too pernickety over safeguarding the ship and conducting drills to prepare for an attack. But their minds change fast when the pirates actually come. "Stick together, and we'll be just fine," Phillips tells his crew over the radio. "Good luck."
They do stick together, even though Phillips and a couple of crewmen are taken hostage. When the chief pirate, Muse issues a ship wide threat, telling the hiding crew that they'll shoot somebody every minute until the rest reveal themselves, Phillips demands they shoot him first—and eventually manages to talk Muse out of shooting anyone at all.
When that immediate danger is passed, Phillips manages—even in captivity—to direct his crew through the dangerous cat-and-mouse game they're forced to play, helping them evade the pirates. And he continues to match wits with Muse and his men. He bandages up one of the pirates' wounds to earn a little sympathy. He resists when he feels he has to. And in every conversation, he probes for any sort of advantage he can find.
The Bible tells us to be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves. Phillips, forced into a position where he can do very little actual harm, proves to be quite wily. And when the might of the American military arrives to settle the matter once and for all, Phillips pleads—as much as he can—for mercy to be shown to a particularly young pirate.’
Have a good week everyone!"
Actually find it quite amusing as the person who told me I was acting like a sheep amongst wolves was also named Tim! If you think this letter is stupid, don't reply as if I wrote the thing, but by all means share your thoughts if you want, no matter how opposite they may be.
I should add, I'm really not on any mission by the way.
